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WEBSTER,  N.Y.  14580 

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CIHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

Series. 


CIHM/ICMH 
Collection  de 
microfiches. 


Canadian  Institute  for  Historical  Microreproductions  /  Institut  Canadian  de  microreproductions  historiques 


Technical  and  Bibliographic  Notes/Notes  techniques  et  bibliographiques 


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n 


Coloured  covers/ 
Couvertura  de  coulaur 

Covers  damaged/ 
Couvertura  endommag^a 

Covers  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Couverture  restaur^e  et/ou  peiliculde 


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D 
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Cover  title  missing/ 

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□    Pages  detached/ 
Pages  d^tachees 


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Coloured  ink  (i.e.  other  than  blue  or  black)/ 
Encre  da  couleur  (i.e.  autre  que  bieue  ou  noire) 

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v/ 


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n 


Showthrough/ 
Transparence 


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Ce  document  est  film*  au  taux  de  r*ducTion  indiqu*  ci-dessous. 

10X  14X  18X  22X 


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Ills 

iu 

difier 
ine 
age 


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shall  contain  the  symbol  ^•^  (meaning  "CON- 
TINUED "),  or  the  sym-bol  V  (meaning  "END"), 
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right  and  top  to  bottom,  as  many  frames  as 
required.  The  following  diagrams  illustrate  the 
method: 


Un  des  symboles  suivants  apparaitra  sur  la 
dernidro  image  de  cheque  microfiche,  seton  le 
cas:  le  symbols  •-*-  signifie  "A  SUIVRE  ".  le 
symbols  V  signifie  "FIN". 

Les  cartes,  planches,  tableaux,  etc.,  peuvent  dtre 
film6s  d  des  taux  de  reduction  diff6rents. 
Lorsque  le  document  est  trop  grand  pour  dtre 
reproduit  en  un  seul  cliche,  il  est  filmd  A  partir 
de  Tangle  supdrieur  gauche,  de  gauche  d  droite, 
et  de  haut  en  bas,  en  prenant  le  nombre 
d'images  ndcessaire.  Les  diagrammes  suivants 
illustrent  la  mdthode. 


rata 


elure. 
a 


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32X 


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2 

3 

1 

2 

3 

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V,\\^  /fir  . 


FRANCOIS    3^E:PIN 


O  o  ^"*  ^'  r» 


A    NARRATIVE 


or  TWE 


LIFE  AND  EXPERIENCE 


or     ^ 


FRANCOIS  PEPIN, 

WHO  WAS  FOE 

MORE  TUAN  40  YEARS  A  MEMBER  OP  THE  PAPAL  CHURCH  ; 

EMBnACINO  AN  ACCOUNT  OF  HIS 

CONVERSION,  TRIALS,  &  PERSECtTIONS, 

IN   TUnNING  TO 

THE  PURE  RELIGIOjV  OF  THE  BIBLE.  2 

ADDRESSED  rARTICULARLY   TO  HIS   BRETHREN  OF  THE  ROMlSH  eilCTKCH. 


Oh  magnify  the  Lord  with  mo,  and  let  us  exalt  his  name  together. 
I  sought  the  Lord  and  he  heard  mc,  and  delivered  me  from  all  mf 


fea^.— Psalm  X2Xiv.  3,  4. 


WITH  AN  INTRODUCTION 


BY      REV.      GEO.      TAYLOR, 

0/  the  Michigan  JlnnuaL  Con/trmce  qf  the  M,  is,.  C. 


DETROIT: 
GEOROE   B.  POMEROY  &  CO.,   PRINTERS  A  PUBLISHERS, 

32  A\D  34  WOOOWARD  AVE.,  OPPOSITE  THE  POST-OFFICB. 

1854.  "^"^ 


Satered  mc^raifig  to  the  Act  of  Ce  Bgrw*,  is  (Be  jnt  1854.  ky 

FRANO0I3   PEPIN, 

t»  th«  Offce  of  tjio  Jistjict  Coupt  of  the  I'mtetJ  Statwfor  the  Pi«- 

trict  of  aik'bJsaa, 


INTRODUCTION. 


1 


h"«- 


In  complying  with  the  request  of  Mr.  Pepin  to 
xn-itQ  an  "introduction"  for  the  following  narra- 
tive, I  would  take  the  liberty  to  say  I  have 
twice  declined  the  honor.  Not,  however,  from  an 
unwillingness  to  contribute  a  trifling  encourage- 
ment to  one  who,  I  have  reason  to  believe,  de- 
sires, above  all  things,  to  go  good  and  to  glorify 
God,  but  for  the  two  following  reasons :  First,  I  have 
desired  that  some  more  competent  hand  than  mine 
should  aid  him  in  introducing  his  book  to  the 
world;  and,  secondly,  from  the  intimate  and  con- 
ipicuouB  relation  I  am  made  to  sustain  to  the  nar- 
rative, and  from  the  deep  interest  I  have  mani* 
fested  and  still  cherish  for  the  French  enteipnze, 
I  Uavo  fm«d  to  trust  myself,  lest  that,  by  a  display 


Vi  INTRODUCTIOl?. 

of  seeming  egotism,  I  might  excite  the  reproaches 
of  the  public,  which  might,  consequently,  detract 
from  the  value  of  the  work.  Yet,  with  my  pro- 
fessed love  to  him,  I  could  not  resist  a  third  appli- 
cation. I  trust  therefore  that  the  reader  will 
exercise  the  indulg'ence  which  the  circumstance  may 
seem  to  require. 

In   the  first  place,   the  reader  is  informed   that 
the  work    puriX)rts  to  be  a  nairative  of  th«  past 
life  and  experience  of  a  Roman  Catholic,  including 
an  account  of  his  {)arent<ago,  birth,  and  education, 
with  numerous  incidents  reflecting  upon  the  doc- 
tiines  and  usages  of  the  Roman  Catholic  Church ; 
and  embracing  also  an  account  of  his  conversion 
to  God,  and  the  peculiar  tiials  through  which  lie 
was  called    to    pass,  in   turning   away  from   th« 
superstitions  of  the  Church  of  Rome  to  the  pure 
rehgion  of  the  Bible,    It  is  due  Mr.  Pepin  that 
the  world  should  know  that  this  nairative  is  not 
an  arrangement  of  conjured  up  fabrications,  pre- 
pared for  the  purpose  of  composing  this  volume; 
for  there  are  many  witness^  to  the  fact  that  a 
majority  of  the  incidents  here  related  as  facts  wer« 
commu»i<?^ted  to  his  pastor,  mi  to  th«  church, 


«* 


f 

I 

I 


r 


IXTRODtlCTIOK. 

duiing  the  first  year  succeeding  his  couversiou.  His 
Honor,  Judge  VVukius,  ni^^o^  «omA  is  presented  by 
the  author,  as  having  been  an  instrument  in  the 
hands  of  God,  in  aiding  liim  in  the  work  of  refor- 
mation, will  bear  witness  tliat,  again  and  again,  he 
recommended  to  his  pastor  that  memoranda  be 
kept  of  the  incidents  related,  and  of  those  important 
parts  of  his  experience,  which  moved  the  sympatliy 
of  the  church  in  his  behalf,  and  gave  ua  confidence 
in  his  sincerity. 

Another  fact  to  which  I  would  call  tbe  attention 
of  the  reader  is,  that  upon  the  very  face  of  tiiis 
narrative  is  the  indisputable  evidence  that  no  sinister 
motives  prompted  him  to  the  work  of  personal 
reform.  It  *?  true  that  reports  were  circulated  in 
the  city,  fi*om  some  souix^e,  that  he  had  been  hired 
at  a  price  to  turn  away  from  the  Roman  Church; 
but  his  whole  life  and  history  support  his  declara- 
tion "  that  he  gi-ew  sick  of,  and  difgasted  with  their 
Bupei-stitions  and  delusions,"  and  when  he  went  out 
from  them  he  had  not  the  most  distant  idea  of 
becoming  a  Protestant;  but^  like  the  patriarch 
Abraliam,  "  went  out  not  knowing  whither  he 
went." 


vi"  IXTRODUCTION* 

The  reader  will  also  bo  ploasod  (o  rqq  the  ox\. 
clence  thftt  no  o^^^^u^u  w^iieme  wa«  coit8tnicte<l  to 
lead  him  among  any  particular  people;    but  that 
being  firet  enlightened  by  the  Word  of  God,  with- 
out human  instruction,  he  endeavored  to  obey  the 
Word,  and  follow  its  counsels,  until  e\idently  led  by 
the  providence—yea,  surely,  by  the  Holy  Spirit-, 
into  the  sanctuary  of  the  Most  High,  when>  the  Spirit 
of  the  Lord  fell  upon  him  with  Pentecostal  power. 
The  cii-cumstances  reported  as  connected  with,  and 
following  his  conversion,   (as  matters  of  religious 
experience)  rn-e  as  nearly  peifectly  coirect  as  it  is 
possible  to  record  such  proceedings,  as  observei-s  of 
the  same.     The  circumstance  of  his  refusing  to 
draw  the  brick  for  a  "  devil's  church,^  was  related 
at  the   German  M.  E.  Church,  in  my  presence, 
at  a  service  of  » love  feast,"  when  by  an  address  in 
his  broken  English,  to  Mr.  W.  W.  Howland,  he  ac- 
knowledged  the  wickedness  of  the  act,  and  with  a 
heart  ovei-flowing  with  gratitude,  he  rejoiced  in  the 
change  which  had  come  over  him.    It  was  an  event 
which  will  be  long  remembered  by  all  present  on 
that  occasion. 

It  is  with  no  small  degiee  of  pleasure  that  I  give 


i 

t 


I 

i 


INTRODUCTIOK.  il 

my  testimony,  also,  t4>  tlio  circumstances  connocted 
n^ith  the  re\ival  which  followed  his  couver»ion;  of 
the  di*>clu8ure&  m<ado  by  Romanists  concerning  the 
treatment  of  their  priests  and  burning  of  bibles. 
The  organizing  tlie  French  Class  and  Church,  wero 
as  purely  providential  as  any  other  part  of  the  pro^ 
ceedings ;  for  negociations  were  immediately  entered 
into  to  procure  a  missionary  who  could  preach  to 
them  the  pure  Gospel  in  their  own  tongue. 

As  the  wrker  has  left  the  present  condition  of 
the  French  cause  unnoticed,  I  would  take  the  liberty 
to  inform  the  reader  that,  under  the  pious  and 
untiring  labors  of  Rev.  T.  Carter,  the  work  has  been 
one  of  geutle  but  certain  progress.  A  neat  and  very 
commodious  house  of  worship  has  been  built  in 
Detroit  for  their  service,  on  Rivard-street,  near  the 
comer  of  Crogan-street,  where  they  now  worship 
God  "under  their  own  vine  and  fig  tree,"  and 
without  molestation.  Many  thanks  are  due  to  a 
generous  christia-u  public,  which,  laying  aside  all 
sectarian  '[considerations/^cheerfully^and^  bountifully 
concentrated  their  christian  sympathies  and  aid  in 
Wialf  of  the  French^j)eople,  and  theii*  church  now 
stands  fvs  a  mouumeut  of  their  liberality. 


U' 


^  INTRODUCTION. 

I  would  take  tho  liberty  respeotfully  to  refer  to 
friends  abroful,  in  Buflklo,  Cleveland,  New  York, 
Beaton,  Baltimore,  Washington,  Pittsburg,  Chicago, 
Newark,  Brooklyn,  and  otlier  places,  whc»  streiifrth- 
enod  the  hands  and  encouraged  the  heart  of  our 
beloved  brother  Carter  by  their  donations,  and  who 
will  learn  with  pleasure  tliat  the  house  is  completed, 
souls  have  already  been  converted  to  God  there,  and 
some  of  those  who  had  forsaken  their  beads  and 
their  penances,  to  serve  God  in  a  scriptural  way, 
have,  under  the  watchful  core  of  our  missionary, 
taken  their  departure  to  the  world  of  blessedness, 
in  the  full  hopes  and  triumphs  of  the  Gospel  of 
Jesus  Christ    May  God  crown  his  continued  labore 
with  increased  success!    Mr.  Pepin  is  also  indus- 
triously  engaged  in  spreading  Bibles  and  preaching 
to  the  French,  both  up  and  down  the  Detroit  River, 
and  at  times  on  both  sides.    Many  have  been  led 
through  his  means  to  read  the  Bible  for  themselves. 
We  make  no  apology  for  the  work  on  iha  subject 
of  its  lack   of   embellishment     Mr.   Pepin  is  a 
plain  man,  and  though  he  sj^ks  his  native  tongue 
with  great  facility,   he    gpeaks    English  but  xmy 
imperfectly;  ip  view  of  which  the  rvlations  mid  stat^- 


! 

f 


n 

fti 

a 
V 

e' 


1 

r 


INTRODUCTION.  XI 

nienf.s  at'A  pre«onk»d  in  language  of    t)iG  titmoRt 
iiinplicity. 

Lastly,  let  me  bespeak  for  him  and  the  French 
cause  the  earnest  and  continued  prayers  of  a  chiistian 
public,  and  God  will  crown  the  work  with  still  greater 
Buccefs,  and  the  people  saved,  will  welcome  us  into 
everhisting  habitations. 

G.  Tayloh. 

Eoi*EO,  May,  1854. 


- 


CONTENTS 


INTRODUCTION. 


CHAPTER    I. 

My  Birtb  PlAce.— My  Par»nts.~My  early  religious  training— My 
«^arly  impreesiona  and  Tencration  fw  the  Boman  Catkolic  Churcli 
Barly  prejudices  againgt  Prot«ftantism.— A  deTil'fl  cbuYch.— 
Biy  preparation  for  First  Communion.  ~  The  seTerity  of  tk« 
priests.—My  heaA  shaved.— My  first  thoughts  up^a  Traaflub- 
ftantiatioQ. 

CHAPTER    II. 

Strange  M»ntradictions--Doubt9aTid  wonders.— Why  I  continu«  % 
RomaniBt.— Incident  at  Kingston.— A  biahop  detecttd,— Orow 
imposition  in  th«  Confessional.— Amhersthurg,  C.  W.— Priwt'f 
conduct. 

CHAPTER    in. 


R^^moves  to  Detroit,  Michigan— My  faith  in  the  Doctrino  of  tht 
Infallibilitj  of  tli«  Cunfsu.-— The  Coiitf»uicti«u»  of  Custoia  awa- 
ken alarm.— Pecularities  of  the  Iriah  and  French.— The  Scapu- 
lar Imposition.  — The  first  decline  of  my  confidenee  in  tU« 
Church-*  InftiUibility. 


*^  'contents. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

My  2©al  In  tho  Temperance  Reform.—IIow  I  prevailed  on  Bishop  L 
to  more  in  the  enterprise  for  the  benefit  of  my  French  Brethren' 
--UOW  I  Tfaa  excluded  from  the  Society  because  I  opposed 
the  Monev-making  projects  of  the  Prie8t8.~My  grief  and  per- 

fi!i  7;"Tr  ^/  ^  ™l°?i.^^  ^^^^  *^^  ProtePtants.lA   barrel  of 
Dew  at  the  house  of  the  President  of  the  Temperance  Society. 


^ 


0 


CHAPTER    V. 


My  continued  reepect  for  the  Bishop  as  my  only  Spiritual  Guide  — 
llow  strong  and  galling  are  the  chains  of  superstition  — Mv 
fears  and  dread  of  purgatory  —My  hatred  of  the  Bible.-^How  I 
happened  first  to  read  it.-What  I  read  I  thought  must  be  the 
wligionof  the  Sons  of  Temperance.— I  took  the  New  Testament 
to  BiBhop  L_— ..— Hew  he  condemned  it.    I  returned  it  to  its 

,  owner.— -Purchased  a  New  Testament.— My  fears  of  guilt  and 
dread  of  Penance  — I  obtained  a  Bible.— Surprising  discovery  of 
the  guilt  of  idolatry.-Took  the  Bible  to  the  Bishop  --lie  con- 

"  5^™°!®!.**  again.-Would  not  destroy  it.— The  end  of  our 
fVlendship.— Visit  to.  and  opinion  of,  Protestant  Churches.— My 
ridicule  of  the  Methodists.— What  the  Bible  says  of  Women 

-     inking  and  praying  in  Meeting.— The  growing  distress  of  my 


CHAPTER  VI. 


Uj  continued  distress  of  mind.— How  unexpectedly  I  went  to  the 
,  Second  M.B.  Church.— IIow  the  power  of  the  Holy  Ghortt  fell 
upon  me.--My  conversion.— More  light  from  the  Bible.— Mv 
fears  reflulting  from  former  superstitions  —The  benefit  of  (rood 
counsel.— My  Roman  baptism  with  oil,  salt,  and  cream.-Mv 
Christian  baptism  with  pure  water.  "*     ^^/ 


^.  i  I  n  i    X  Sii  IX.       ^   J  It 


My  renunciation  of  Popery  brings  rergcciition— my  family's  lone- 


' 


C0KTENT8. 


XV 


HneM—Ciotl  raises  friends  for  us.  The  Romanists  report  that  I 
sold  my  rcligioa  for  money— an  Allegory— more  persecution 
defended  by  law — how  God  answered  the  prayer  of  faith — the 
great  revival— more  of  the  French  people  converted— the  burning 
of  a  Bible—a  thrilling  incident. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 


Organization  of  the  first  French  Class.  My  call  to  labor  for  nnf 
countrymen.  My  effort  in  Detroit.  A  missionary  procured.  My 
employment  as  a  Bible  colporturer.  Persecutions  renewed.  My 
last  effort  to  induce  Bishop  L.  to  lead  me  back  if  I  ha !  erred  tvom 
the  right  way.    Quotation  from  the  Canada  ChrlBtlan  Guardiaa. 


CONCLUSION, 


k 


k 


NArvRATIVE 


I 


OF  THE 


LIFE  OF  FRANCOIS   PEPIN. 


•♦-^-^ 


V 


CHAPTER  I. 

My  birth-pbtee.— -My  parents.~My  early  religioui  trainiDff.~My 
early  impreeaiona  and  veneration  for  the  Koman  Catholic  Church. 
— Early  prejudiccn  against  Protestantism. — A  devil's  church.— 
My  preparation  for  First  Communion.  — •  The  severity  of  the 
prieats.-— My  head  shaved.— Jly  first  thoughts  upon  Tran&uh- 
stantlAtion. 

Iir  presenting  a  naiTative  of  my  life  and  experience,  I 
would  inform  the  reader  that  I  was  born  in  Charles- 
burg,  Quebec,  Lower  Canada,  and  here  my  father, 
Pierre  Pepin,  lived,  for  eighty-four  yeai-s. 

My  parents  were  members  of  the  Roman  Catholic 
Church  from  their  infancy,  and  educated  their  child- 
ren according  to  its  strictest  usages.  Particular  pains 
were  taken,  m  the  days  of  my  childhood,  to  engraft 
upon  my  mind  and  heart  an  exalted  veneration  for 
the  priests,  and  for  all  the  seiTices  and  duties  of  i-e- 
ligion,  the  result  of  which  was  an  early  bending  of 
my  ineliuationa  to  all  their  sacred  obligations. 

When  only  ten  years  old,  I  was  taught  by  the 
fvmU  the  Latin  Scr>  ices,  called  ''  Lcs  Pricren  de  la 


18 


THE  "  devil's  church." 


Masse,"  tlie  prayei"s  of  the  Mass,  and  for  scvTal  yoan 


constantly  assisted  in  sinewing  tlieni.  Beiii>'  thus  in 
fi-equent  association  with  "tliem,  witnesdng  their 
solemn  and  earnest  devotions,  and  witli  tlem  chant- 
ing the  solemn  requiem  year  after  year,  aid  hearing 
them  constantly  represent  the  Protestant  religion  as 
the  devil's  religion,  I  soon  became  an  unchaiitaLle 
and  unfeeling  bigot.  A  prejudice  against  Protestan- 
tism was  thus  early  so  deeply  rooted  in  my  heart 
that,  no  insults  or  abuses  committed  against  their 
false  religions  (thus  called)  seemed  to  me  to  be  un- 
christian or  wicked ;  and  to  persecute  them,  I  really 
supposed  was  doing  God's  service. 

Such,  indeed,  wxtc  my  opinions  of  the  wickedness 
of  Protestantism  only  two  yeai-s  l:>efore  my  renuncia- 
tion of  Romanism,  that  when  the  members  of  the 
German  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  were  building 
their  house  of  worship  in  Beaubien  street,  Detroit, 
I  conscientiously  refused  to  draw  a  load  of  brick  from 
the  river,  lest  I  should  sin  against  God,  and  when  the 
small  favor  was  solicited  by  Mr.  W.  W.  Howland, 
(one  of  the  Trustees)  I  impiously  answered  him  "  I 
would  not  help  to  build  the  "  Devil's  Church."  But 
when  the  church  was  completed,  and  at  its  dedica- 
tion, I  w^as  there  a  new  man,  with  new  conceptions 
of  religious  tmth,  (for  God  had  converted  my  soul ;) 
I  found  that  veiy  church  to  be  the  "house  of  God 
and  the  gate  of  Hea\en." 

But  to  return  to  my  early  experience.  Although 
my  prejudices  were  so  deeply  rooted  against  e^•ery 
system  of  religion  but  that  of  the  Church  of  Home, 
rny  nimd  was  frequently  ti'oublod  by  tlie  strange 
inconsistencies  I  witnessed,  the  unkindness  aud  the 
apparent  dishonesty  of  some  of  the  priestSj  and  by 


« 


4 


i 


UY  PREPARATION  FOR  FIRST  COMMUNION.        19 

tliG  fact  that  tlioir  teachings  and  thoir  deportment 
Beomed  to  be  often  at  variance  with  each  other.  Great 
pains  were  taken  to  clothe  the  services  of  Confession 
and  the  Eiicliarist  with  deep  solemnity,  and  at  a  very 
early  age  I  had  learned  to  cherish  a  most  exalted 
veneration  for  them;  but  circumstances  connected 
with  my  preparation  for  "  First  Communion,"  awaken- 
e<l  in  my  mind  many  perplexing  and  afflicting  doubts, 
from  which  all  my  confirmed  respect  for  the  church 
never  entirely  relieved  me. 

At  Charlesburg,  the  children  from  seven  yeai-s  old 
and  upward  were  annually  collected,  taught  catechism, 
and  })repared  for  "  Fii-st  Communion ; "  this  contin- 
ued till  they  were  some  twelve  or  fourteen  yeai*s  of 
age,  according  to  the  judgment  of  the  priest.  For 
the  last  three  montlis  preceding  tlie  communion,  we 
were  daily  conducted  to  the  church,  where  we  passed 
through  so  flUiguing  a  coui-se  of  catechism  and 
penance,  tliat  child  though  I  w^as,  I  often  wondered 
that  the  "  Blessed  ISIary"  so  kind  as  she  was  reported 
to  be,  did  not  persuade  her  son  Jesus,  who  w^as  said 
to  love  children  so  much,  to  institute  some  other 
method  of  preparation.  One  circumstance  connected 
wdth  these  proceedings  w^as  in  itself  so  ludicrous  that 
it  rendered  the  whole  service  l)oth  disgusting  and 
contemptible.  An  order  w\as  issued  by  the  priest 
that  the  head  of  every  boy  should  be  shaved  of  its 
hair,  as  close  as  the  sheep  is  sheared  of  its  wool,  and 
in  this  condition  we  received  our  first  communion. 
I  shall  ever  remember  my  great  disappointment 
and  aftliction ;  I  had  looked  "forward  to  that  day 
with  no  small  degree  of  interest  and  |)leasm'e,  but  by 
this  circumstance,  eveiy  sensation  of  wnei'ation  tied 
from  my  heart,  I  thought  wo  looked  more  like  so 


20  mt  IKCOkSISTEKCIES  Of  TtlE  CmTRCII  OF  ROME. 

many  monkeys  than  human  beings — indeed  I  was  po 
a-^hameil  that  I  felt  indignant. 

The  difigiist  thus  excited  toward  tlie  requirements 
of  the  chuivh,  liad  but  just  passed  awav  when  eir- 
cumfitances  connc*cted  witfi  my  preparation  for  con- 
firmation gave  me  a  .second  blow,  whieli,  tliough  it 
did  not  desti-oy  my  respect  for  sacred  tilings,  did  fre- 
quently trouble  my  heart.  A  stmnge  absurdity  pre- 
sented itiself  to  me  on  one  occasion  while  in  the  cate- 
chism class,  which  to  me  now,  is  e\idence  that  the 
priests  cannot  be  blind  to  the  delusions  of  their  sys- 
tem. The  priests  had  often  labored  to  convince  us, 
and  to  impress  upon  our  minds  as  a  fact  that  the 
wafer  when  conseciated  by  their  prayei's,  became  the 
real  body  of  Christ;  while  engao-ed  in  this  explana- 
tion, one  of  the  boys  interrogated  him  as  to  why  he 
did  not  consecrate  a  larger  quantity  than  they  usually 
did,  to  wliich  the  priest  responded  that  in  warm 
weather  they  never  prepared  more  than  enougli  for 
the  day,  except  one  to  be  preserved  for  sudden  sick- 
ness, lest  by  keeping  them  till  morning  they  should 
rot.  Startled  with  astonishment,  I  exclaimed,  "Can 
God  rot!"  The  suspicious  manner  in  which  the 
priest  hushed  me  to  silence,  without  an  explanation, 
still  more  excited  my  wonder;  and  though  I  did 
believe  the  doctrine  of  transubstantiation,  and  ate  the 
wafer  as  my  God  and  Sa\iour,  yet  I  often  wondered 
over  that  mystery. 

The  inconsistencies  which  characterize  the  Roman 
Church,  viewed  with  Protestant  eyes,  may  excite 
surprise,  that  the  subjects  of  such  abuses  and  impo- 
sitions do  not  turn  away  to  som-ces  of  better  instruc- 
tion ;  but  with  the  impression  indelibly  fixed  in  the 
mind  that  every  other  system  is  false  and  devihsh, 


' 


riOLEKCE  OF  A  PRIEST. 


21 


where  could  they  go?  What  could  the?  Jo?  Had 
there  been  any  conception  of  h'ght  or  liope,  even  a 
child  would  be  driven  to  seek  it  under  the  treatment 
I  am  about  to  relate,  yet  in  absence,  and  ignorant  of 
all  hope  elsewhere,  he  must  needs  submit,  ainl  follow 
this,  which  was  to  him  the  only  way  to  life  and 
heaven. 

During  my  preparation  for  confirmation  with  my 
fellow  youths,  I  wa.s  frequently  conducted  t  >  the 
church  for  penance  and  confession,  whei'e  for  lioui-s 
together  we  kneeled  upon  the  bare  floor,  counting 
our  beads  and  repeatedly  kisbing  the  pavement. 
On  one  of  these  humiliating  occasions,  having 
grown  weary  by  the  fatiguing  exei-cise,  raising  my- 
self from  the  floor  I  inquired  of  a  lad  by  my  side, 
if  he  supposed  the  girls  were  nearly  through  confess- 
ing ?  One  of  the  ])i'iests  observing  it,  approached  me 
in  great  rage,  seized  me  by  the  arm,  smote  me  in  the 
face  with  the  palm  of  his  hand,  and  with  severe  vio- 
lence prostrated  me  on  the  floor,  commanding  me  to 
continue  my  penance. 

Though,  notwithstanding  such  provoking  and 
abusive  treatment,  I  was  still  obliged  to  believe  that 
this  was  the  only  way  to  establish  the  salvation  of  my 
soul,  and  to  escape  the  miseries  of  hell.  And  here  I 
would  inform  the  reader  that  mine  was  not  an  isolated 
C4ise,  but  that  hundreds  of  children  are  thus  unkindly 
treated,  under  pretence  that  for  such  penance  the 
Virgin  Mary  and  Jesus  Christ  will  love  them  the 
more. 

Oh,  how  difforont  from  the  counsel  and  example 
of  our  Saviour,  who  said,  ''  SulFer  the  little  children 
to  come  unto  me ;"  and  who  *'  took  ihem  in  his  arms, 
laid  his  hand  upon  them  and  blessed  them !"  How  dif- 


A/  . 


22 


eJEKTlENESS  OF  THE  ftAVlOUR. 


fereiit  from  thai  first  fiwcet  sentence  I  read  from  tlie 
blessed  gospel,  when,  by  the  providence  of  God  it  fell 
into  my  hands  as  heredter  st.'ited.  It  was  Matt.  xi.  28, 
29,  and  30 :  "  Come  unto  me  all,  all  ye  that  labor,  and 
are  heavy  laden,  and  I  will  give  you  rest.  Take  my  yoke 
upon  you  and  learn  of  me,  for  I  am  meek  and  lowly  of 
heart ;  and  ye  sliall  find  rest  to  your  souls.  For  my 
yoke  is  easy,  and  my  burden  is  hght." 

Roman  Catholic  reader,  does  not  the  above  account 
remind  you  of  some  circumstances  connect<xl  with 
your  early  training  ? 


CHAPTER  11. 


Strange  Controdictionfl,— Boubta  and  Wondera. — Why  I  continue  a 
Romanist. — Incident  at  Kingston. — A  Bishop  Detected. — Gross 
Imposition  in  the  Confessional.— Amherstburg,  C.W.— 'PrieBt'd 
Conduct. 

Notwithstanding  the  unkindness  of  the  priests,  and 
the  severity  of  the  duties  and  penances  imposed  upon 
ni-3,  in  my  preparation  for  first  communion  and  con- 
firmation, I  still  revered  tliem,  as  teachers  of  divine 
truth  and  salvation;  and  conceived  no  wickedness 
greater  than  to  s|)eak  against  sucli  holy  men,  whom 
I  was  taught  were  so  pure  in  heart  that  they  could 
not  commit  sin. 

The  absolute  necessity  of  confession,  and  of  pardon 
from  the  priests,  in  order  to  salvation,  was  so  con- 
stantly held  up  before  us,  that  my  confidence  tlierein 
was  unwavering  for  many  years,  and  with  most  un- 
feigned sincerity  I  frequently  confessed  my  sin,  and 
received  their  professed  pardons  and  blessings,  with- 
out any  just  conccplicn  of  the  merits  of  the  atone- 
ment by  Chiist  I  did,  indeed,  supjxjse  tliat  there 
was  no  virtue  in  any  of  the  duties  or  services  of  re- 
ligion, without  their  prayers  and  benedictions.  When 
at  the  age  of  thirty  I  was  about  to  leave  Quebec 

T ,  to  cx)nfess  and  obtain  pardon  for  all  my  past 

jiins.    As  I  left  him  I  inquired,  *»  What  shall  I  do  if 


I  i 


24 


STRANGEi  COKTRADtCTIONS. 


I  lake  eick  away  in  the  woods,  with  no  priest  near  to 
confess  ino  ?"  Wlien  ho  administered  the  following 
surprising  conn^el ; 

'*  If  you  are  taken  sick,  and  no  priest  is  near, 
kneel  down  and  pray  to  Jesus  Chribt,  and  be  will 
save  you  anywhere/' 

I  left  tlie  confesHionaJ,  comforted  of  couiT^e,  and 
musing,  said  to  myself,  **  If  Jesus  will  lie<'ir  my 
prayer  in  the  woods,  why  will  ho  not  hear  me  at 
home,  or  anywhere  else  ?  What  need  is  there  of 
confessing  to  the  priest  at  all?"  Year  after  year, 
circuinstanc^s  tran8pire<l,  presenting  such  strange 
contradictions,  that  I  was  frequently  tempted  to 
doubt  the  sincerity  of  these  proft.»ssed  divine  teacliere. 

The  Protestant  Christian  reader  will  wonder  at 

my  inconsistenc) ,  when  I  say  that  from  that  hour, 

though  my  coi.^dence  in  the  religion  of  my  fathere 

was  severely  shaken,  yet  I  continued  to  adhere  to 

the  Romish  Church  with  a  tenacity  truly  astonish- 
in^v. 

My  on)y  method  of  accounting  for  it  is  this:  I 
knew  no  other  way ;  Protestantism  I  believed,  was 
devil's  religion;  mine  was  the  only  true  church,  and 
all  without  her  pale  were  hereticks  and  would  surely 
go  to  hell.  Where  then  could  J  go?  What  else 
could  I  do,  but  cleave  to  tao  Chuioh  of  liome  ? 
^  Here  was  my  only  hope;  here  alone  was  my  salva- 
tion, leader,  no  one  can  fuUy  realize  the  j)ower  of 
superstition  u|X)n  the  human  mind,  but  those  who 
have  been  its  subjects.  Oh,  how  I  pity  the  thou- 
sands of  my  French  brethren,  according  to  the  flesh, 
who  have  witnessed  all,  and  more,  than  I  have  here 
txAtiUid :  — -  who  have  feared,  and  doubted,  and  hoj>ed, 
and  despaired,  as  I  Lave  done :  and  ai-e,  as  I  was,  too, 


DOrBTS  AKH  WONDERS. 


25 


Rtiang^m  to  the  way  of  ascnne !  It  is  my  onrncRt 
pmyer  to  G(xl,  our  Hoaveniy  Father,  tliaf,  shouUl  nny 
8uch  persons  rea<l  tliose  pages,  thoy  may  be  blessed, 
enlightened,  and  encourage<]  t(.)  do  as  I  have  done. 
Read  God's  Holy  Word;  pray  to  G(x\  youiselves; — 
yes,  pray  to  God  alone,  tlirouoh  Jesus  Christ,  and 
His  Holy  Spirit  will  guide  you  into  the  way  of  i.>eaco 
and  salvatioii. 

Although,  as  I  liavosiild,  my  tenacity  for  the  Roman 
Chiu-ch continued,  and  though  the  fii-st  least  thought  of 
leading  her  had  never  entered  my  heart  or  my  head, 
still,  the  contradictions  spoken  of,  which  1  had  fre- 
quently discovered,  led  me  to  watch  the  nrieste  more 
})a^ticularly.  And,  despite  all  my  veneration  for  their 
sacred  office,  and  faith  in  the  purity  of  their  charac- 
ter, circumstxances  did  occasionally  transpire,  by  which 
I  was  compelM  to  fear  that  some  of  them  we!  e  both 
avaracious  and  dishonest, — seeking,  and  inventing 
schemes  to  extract  from  the  poor,  the  fruits  of  theS 
toil  and  industry. 

In  February,  1834,  while    at   Kingston,  U.  C, 

Bishop  McD eng-a^-ed  my  services   to   sing 

at  cliurch,  on  the  foUowmg  tei-ms:  I  agi-eed  ix) 
teacli  two  children,  b'^  two  lessons  per  week,  and 
sing  in  church  witli  them  for  six  montlis,  for  the  sum 
of  fifty  dollai*s.  At  the  time  appointed  to  close  the 
contract  we  met  together,  and,  at  liis  suggestion,  a 
written  agreement  was  executed.  The  Bishop  drew 
the  instrument  himself,  and  quite  hastily  requested 
me  to  sign  it.  I  presented  it  to  a  friend  who  could 
read  Englisl),  for  examination,  wlio  discovered  that 
the  Bishop  had  written  thirty  imt^rA  of  fifty  dollars. 
Wlien  he  saw  that  I  hesitated,  lie  inquired  why  I 
did  not  sign  it,    I  asked  him  if  it  was  possible  that 


26       MY  CONFIDENCE  IN  CONFESSION  SHAKEN. 

a  Bisliop  could  both  lie  md  cheat  The  Bi^^llup  .in-rst. 
sUraping  the  floor,  demaiido<i  that  I  shoiild  stop  my 
impudence.  I  deliberately  informed  Jiim  that  I  could 
not  be  either  cheated  or  frightened  by  a  Bishop,  and 
that  if  he  wante<l  my  servicers  he  must  be  lionest  and 
fulfill  his  agreement,  whicli,  afk»r  some  fruitless 
efforts  to  change  the  terms,  he  did,  cori-ecting  the 
instniment,  and  the  bargain  was  coiicludcM.1. 

Another  circumstance  transpired  at  the  same  place, 
by  which  the  honesty  of  a  ])riest  appeared  to  me  in 
a  doubtful  light,  and  by  which  my  confidence  in 
confession  and  pardon  by  the  priests,  was  more  than 
ever  shaken:     When   about   to  leave   Kingston,    I 

called  ui>on  Father  D with  a  sincere  heart  to 

confers  my  sins,  and  as  1  could  speak  but  little  Eng- 
lish, I  begge<l  the  favor  to  confer  in  the  French 
language.  The  favor  was  readily  gmnte<l.  At  the 
clase,  he  was  about  to  pronounce  my  pardon  witliout 
farther  ceremony,  when  I  request^xl  him  to  interro- 
gate me,  as  ^^  as  customaty,  as  t-o  the  cause  and  cha- 
racter of  particular  sins,  when,  to  my  sui-piise,  he 
informed  me  he  had  not  understood  a  word  I  had 
said.  I  was  so  grieved,  disap|>ointed,  and  offended, 
that  I  arose  from  my  knees,  called  him  a  base  im- 
iX)stor,  and  left  the  confessional. 

The  im})osition  thus  practise<l  upon  me  at  Kings- 
ton, witli  the  accimmlating  causes  of  suspicion  of  dis- 
honesty of  the  priests,  weaned  me  in  a  great  measure 
from  the  confessional ;  and  yet,  as  I  ha<I  no  ho}>e  of 
salvation  but  through  these  means,  I  was  compelled  by 
necessity,  again  and  again,  to  go,  although  its  constant 
t^Midency  was  to  excite  in  me  lH)th  doubts  and  dis- 
gust,  1  will  detain  tlie  reader  with  but  one  more  of 
these  dark  exiiibitions  of  iniquity,  to  which  thousands 


WHY  I  CONTINUE  A  ROMANIST. 


27 


are  daily  submitting,  vainly  fiiipposing  that  tliis,  and 
this  alone,  is  the  way  of  salvation,. 
,  This  ci*o\vning  act  of  priestly  hypocrisy  and  Inutlsh- 
ness,  transpired  at  Fort  Maiden  (now  Amhei-stburg), 
C.  W.,  A.D.  1839.  While  seriously  and  sincerely 
confessing  my  sins  before  Father  V he  interro- 
gated me  upon  subjects  of  the  most  beastly  nature 
—  presenting  questions  so  vulgar  and  obscene,  that 
decency  forbids  description,  and  at  which,  wicked 
nian  as  I  wav^,  1  was  so  disgusted  and  enraged,  that 
I  called  him  a  bljK'ko-uard  in  the  confessional,  and 
refusing  a  blessing  from  so  base  a  man,  I  prefeired  to 
leave  the  throne  of  grace  unpardoned.  But  the 
worst  features  of  his  degiuded  conduct  w^ere  not  de- 
veloped until  I  learned  the  heartrvshocking  intelligence 
from  my  wife  that  he  pursued  the  same  bea.stly  course 
with  her  iiX),  o<*cupying  the  solemn  season  of  confes- 
sion in  conversation  on  such  uncha^ste,  lewd,  and  de- 
basing subject'j,  which  none  but  the  most  abandoned 
to  profligacy  could  possibly  t'lke  pleasure  in. 

And  yet,  reader,  t  w^is  still  a  Roman  Catholic. 
Protestantism  was  still  devil's  religion  to  me ;  and  I 
did  still  firmly  believe  that  salvation  could  be  found 
no  where  but  in  the  Church  of  Rome.  I  doubt  not 
but  that  thousands  who  constantly  go  to  confession, 
have  been  and  often  are,  treated  in  the  same  wicked 
manner ;  and  though  they,  as  we  were,  are  often  dis- 
gusted and  ofrende<l,  still,  like  us,  continue,  because 
they  know  no  other  way, —  their  ho}">e  and  salvation 
are  all  here. 

Dear  reader,  jXfrmit  me'^once  more  to  pray  that 
our  gracious  God  will  bless^^these  reflections  upon  this 
"  ravaterv  of  iniouitv."  that  mv  French  frinnrlK  mnv 
see  the  light  I  have  seen,  confess  to  God  alone,  and 
from  \m  lloly  Spirit  x^Qm  pardon  and  peace. 


o 


8 


DIVINE  GRACE. 


Oh,  how  groat  a  debtor  I  am  to  grac^ !  though 
long  I  lived  in  this  darkness,  and  under  this  yoke  of 
superstition,  "  the  lin-^s  have  fallen  to  me  in  plea^nt 
places,  and  I  have  a  goodly  heritage/' 

Where  shall  my  wondering  soul  begin :  — 

How  shall  I  all  to  heaven  aspire  ? 
**  A  slave  redeemed  from  hell  and  sin ; 

A  brand  plucked  from  the  eternal  fire. 
How  shall  I  equal  triumph  raise. 

And  sing  my  Great  Peliverer'e  praise  ?'* 


of 

It 


CHAPTEIl  III. 


JlftiainTea  to  Detroit,  Michigan  .—My  fahh  in  the  Doctrine  of  the 
Infarlllbihty  of  the  Church.— The  contradictions  of  Custom  awa- 
ken alarm. — Peculiajrities  of  the  Iri»h  and  I'rench. — The  Scapu- 
lar Imposition.  —  The  firat  decline  of  my  coufldeoco  in  tbo 
Church's  InfaUibility. 

In  the  year  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and  fortr, 
I  removed  to  Michigan,  U.  S.,  and  settled  in  the  city 
of  Detroit.  I  cannot  refiain  from  regarding  this  re- 
moval as  being  providential,  and  by  which  God  in 
great  mercy  brought  me  under  a  variety  of  influences, 
all  of  which  kid  an  imj)ortant  tendency  to  enlighten 
my  mind,  and  prepare  my  heart  for  the  reception  of 
his  truth  and  gi"eat  salvation.  And  while  the  result 
has  crowned  me  and  my  own  family  with  so  many 
precious  blessings,  I  trust  that  many  of  my  countr}'- 
men,  who  ar«  now  under  the  galling  yoke  of  priestly 
domination  and  suj^erstition,  will  soon  become  shai-ers 
of  the  same  inestimable  treasure. 

However,  when  I  settled  in  Detroit  I  was  veiy  far 
from  even  a  bending  toward  Protestantism ;  I  had 
indeed  no  other  faith,  no  other  hope  but  the  Church 
of  Rome.  The  doctrine  of  the  mfallibility  of  the 
church  was  my  great  prop ;  I  bowed  obsequiously  to 
this  dogma,  and  in  this  all  the  disgusting  develope- 

iriAnfft  of  Ufi  fnllftpv  T  \\nA  cr>^n    !iui<:imfv1    ir\  fiinlr   ami 

become  oblivious.    How  could  I  chooso  but  to  arrive 


80 


STRANGE   INCONGTiriTIES. 


r 


at  sucli  ,1  conclusion  ?  The  Pope  occnpied  tlie  place 
of  God,  and  had  the  keys  of  heaven  and  hell;  and  I 
believed  that  he  could  instruct  the  Bishop,  and  they 
the  Priests,  and  then  their  teaching  must  be  abso- 
lutely true,  whatever  disagreement  I  fancied  might 
be  discoverable  in  their  deportment.  Just  so  much 
was  I  tlien  a  slave  to  superstition. 

But  in  the  proo-ress  of  events  mv  faith  in  this 
stroDg-hold  of  Poj>ery  was  destmed  soon  to  be  fear- 
fully "shaken.  First,  I  found  myself  exceedingly  per- 
plexed by  the  discovery  of  strange  incongmities, 
amounting  to  point  blank  contradictions,  betv/een  the 
customs  of  the  church  in  Detroit  and  Lower  Canada, 
One  of  these  strange  anomalies,  was  the  fact  that 
while  the  priests  in  Quebec  would  not  pardon  a 
penitent  short  of  from  three  to  six  weeks'  confession 
and  penance,  th<  seof  Detroit  would  dispense  pardons 
at  the  first  confc  sion. 

The  dilTerence.  also  }»etwcen  the  respect  paid  to 
different  saints,  (to  St.  Peter  and  St.  Patrick  in  par- 
ticular,) astonished  me  very  much.  To  me,  a  Saint 
was  a  holy  being,  and  in  our  one  true  church  all 
w^ere  equally  good  and  worthy  of  veneration,  and  to 
speak  profanely  of  either,  wa^:  equally  wicked  in  my 
mind.  Bi  t  in  Detroit  I  found  that  the  Saints  of 
different  nations  w^ere  made  a  subject  of  ridicule, 
especially  between  the  Irish  and  the  P'rench,  which 
facts  in  themselves  produced  in  my  heart  feehngs  of 
horror;  but  the  most  painful  effects  upon  my  mind 
were  the  glaring  inconsistei.  .tjs  in  the  church's  pro- 
fessed infallibility. 

The  severest  blow  to  my  faith  in  this  rocJc  of  Po- 
pery, resulted  trom  tlie  introduction  of  the  cek^brated 
Scapular;  and  from  tlu§  cv(>ut  IdatQ  the  commeucQ- 


THE  SCArULAfe. 


31 


\mnt  of  tlic  actual  decline  of  my  coniidoucQ  In  the 
traditional  rites  of  the  church.  A  priest  visiting  the 
city  in  A.  D.  1842,  and  addressing  the  church  upon 
this  important  rite,  infomuM:!  us  that  the  "  Blessed 
Virgin  and  Mother  of  God"  came  down  to  a  Nunery 
and  presented  to  the  holy  sisters  a  piece  of  cloth  about 
two  inches  square,  (liaviiig  some  sacred  initials  on  it) 
and  directed  them  to  manufacture  its  resemblance  for 
distribution  among  the  people.  We  were  directed  to 
wear  them  suspended  by  a  cord  round  the  neck,  and 
that  whosoever  would  wear  them  and  repeat  two 
"Ave  Maries"  daily,  "  Oh  Mary,  you  neve^  sinned, 
j)ray  for  me,'^  that  no  accident  whatever  befalHng  us 
should  do  us  any  injury.  That  falling  from  a  build- 
ing we  should  be  preserved,  or  into  the  water  we 
cotdd  not  drown,  or  should  anyone  shoot  the  deadly 
bullet  from  the  rifle  at  us,  it  would  glance  off  and  do 
us  no  harm.  He  discouised  eloquently  upon  the 
surprising  benefits  of  this  precious  relic,  and  declared 
that  an  Individual  who  wore  one,  having  resolved 
upon  committmg  suicide  by  drowning,  leaped  into  a 
river  three  times  and  floated  upon  the  water,  and  that 
after  the  third  attempt  lie  divested  himself  of  the 
Scapular,  plunged  in,  and  was  drowned. 

The  Nuns  of  the  city  collected  a  large  number  of 
worn  out  pantaloons  and  coats,  from  which  they 
manufectured  them  in  great  quantities,  and  multi- 
tudes flocked  to  receive  them.  Among  the  rest,  with 
my  companion,  I  went  to  obtain  this  gracious  and 
jni:  aculous  preservative  from  accident ;  and  some  four- 
teen hundred  bowed  down  before  the  Bishop  and 
devoutly  received  the  precious  ftivor.  There  was  one 
act  whicli  added  maierially  to  tlic  eliarm  of  this,  as 
fit  doesto  many  of  the  relics  bestowed ;  it  was  ita 


11 


02   THE  FALLACr  OF  Tire  SCArrUR  DEMON^STRATED. 

being  profesfieJly  glvon  without  money  and  witliouf, 
price.  But  it  is  expected  that  once  a  year  when  Mass 
is  said  for  the  blessed  Saints  of  the  Holy  Society  of 
the  Scapular,  every  recipient  of  the  favor  will  present 
a  fi-ee-will  otiering  of  some  two  shillino-s  or  moi*e  for 
the  spiritual  benefit  of  >  the  holy  society.  On  the 
occasions  alluded  to,  a  similar  free-will  otlering  was 
solicited,  and  a  lar^-e  table  was  literally  covere^l  to  a 
heap  with  quarter^and  half  dollars  and  other  silver 

coin. 

The  confidence  of  many  In  the  Scapular  remains 
unshaken  to  thi8  day,  while  they  wear  them  and 
trust  in  them  with  deVout  sincerity ;  but  with  others, 
as  with  my  own  ftimily,  it  has  long  since  been  re- 
garded as  a  worthless  imposition.  Tlie  follacy  of  this 
reputed  preserve?',  was  demonstrated  in  a  very  few 
years.  One  of  my  neighbors,  Mr.  L — --,  who  re- 
ceived it  by  my  si(le,  was  missing  from  his  family  for 
some  three  montk^,  when  it  was  announced  that  a 
human  body  had  been  found  floating  in  the  river. 
Those  who  had  friends  missing,  hastened  to  the  spot 
to  see  if  they  could  recognize  their  la^t  o^xes,  and 

among  the  rest  Mrs.  L went  in  search  of  her 

absent  liusband.  The  boily  was  in  such  a  state  of 
decom}K)sition  that  no  human  feature  could  be  dis- 
covered; but  as  the  corpse  was  being  moved,  Mi's. 
L requested  that  they  would  look  for  the  Scapu- 
lar, stating  that  she  should  know  her  husband  could 
she  e<^  it,  which  they  did,  and  found  one  by  which 
she  recognized  tlie  body  of  lier  drowned  husbancl. 
Thus  the  very  tiling  in  which  he  had  religiously 
t rusM:d  to  save  him  f.om  accident,  possessed  no  otlicr 
virtue  than  to  testify  that  he  had  Ijeen  drowned. 
When  these  facts  came  to  our  ears,  the  imposition 


♦ 


OilOSS  SUPERSTITIONS  OP  ROMANISTS.  33 

object  in  which  I  oL  tni^^^^^  f  ^« 

'ejoice  that  by  divke  Jacf  r  1         ,  ^''"'"'■'  ''^"*^  ^ 

'".^ -ay  foL  idrto^'^::/^^  --f ''«d  ^^ 

Set";;  £;  x't '  ur&r^  ^'--  p- '- 

their  p..a3.e,.s,  in'thjf  co  JLmron  S  J^d   P"'\/'^ 
atonement  of  Chii-f  ,,^'""""^"^^'"1^(3,  orjnthe 

wonder  more  that  I  e\%v  .1>a„i  n  -  °^  ^'^'^«'  ' 
even  by  the  Sdi  ^"otte  'S"  P  "  f^'^^^r 
«adei.  may  not  be  aware  of  the  sL^.d  .^'^^  'f 
dence  which  is  clierished  hi  .l!  ^"P^'^V^'^"^  "^^Jifi- 
Roman  Cliurch  in  hei.  n  ..7  /^f  '^jembeis  of  the 

tl^e  vast  Huant^riC  :  i2a  ^"'  °' 
of  this'e  e  .    nt"^     „  1    5'  '"T''"'''"'  «°^  P^°«"-Mg 

«uper«ti  SL;re;  i ;:':.'! j^^??'*^ ^'i* *j^« «^o,,i 

»eque„tl3-"  the  e  iV mud    ^^        ''""'?'''  ""^  <='>»-; 
T  -^    i-iicn..  lb  inuui  more  iit^p  moir/^  ^i?  'j.   •  ■  * 

Lower  Canada  than  in  DetroT    But  , Til       '*/"' 

floekinr  t„  ♦)     P  •         '''•    multitudes   of   peonle 
flockmg  to  t^he  pnesls  with  their  bottles,  juj  Id 


u 


THE  PRETENDED  HOLY  WATER. 


kegs,  for  tlieir  usual  supply.  Surprising  as  it  niav 
seem  to  my  Protestant  friends,  there  was  a  time 
when  I  almost  excelled  my  brethren  in  my  confidence 
in  the  ^  irtue  of  this  consecrated  preservative.  In  the 
inonth  of  May,  1839,  having  just  entered  the  married 
life,  and  having  expended  all  my  little  treasure  in 
building  a  small  tenement  for  a  residence,  I  became 
much  alarmed,  and  anxious  for  its  safety,  on  account 
of  a  most  tei-rific  storm,  mingled  with  feaiful  lightning 
and  thunder.  The  tempest,  which  took  place  on  the 
eleventh  of  the  month,  lasted  from  five  o'clock  P.  M., 
till  eight  A.  M.  next  day.  With  my  neighbors,  I 
fled  to  my  beads  and  holy  water,  and  at  every  re- 
peated flash  1  repeated  my  sprinklings  and  ci'ossing 
therewith,  until  1  had  exhausted  the  bottle  and  used 
up  all  my  store,  and  really  supposed  that  I  owed  my 
preservation  to  the  water,  and  regarded  it  with 
increased  veneration. 

A  siiiiilar   imposition   to   the    8capi,lai'  was   at- 
tempted,   but   did   not   meet  with   equal  success. 
During  the  period  of  my    Scripture   reseai-ches,  a 
priest  addressed  us  on  the  Sabbath  upon  the  Society 
for  the  Pi'opagation  of  Faith ;    he  spoke  of  its  exist- 
aiice  elsewhere,  and  of  the  gi-eat  loss  we  sustained 
by  not  supporting  the  society  in  Detroit.     He  read 
the  constitution,  and  commented  upon  it  very  elo- 
quently, and  informed  us  that  by  paying  four  cents 
per  week  we  might  become  members  and  shai-e  the 
gTcat  benefits  of  the  faith.     He  also  informecl  us  that 
he  should  visit  us  from  house  to  house,  and  that 
ai3  he  had  noAv  fully  explained  the  nature  and  bene- 
fits of  the  organization  he  wished  no  questions  asked 
when  lie  called,  but  the  names  and  contributions  of 
the  people.     Accordingly,  in  a  few  days  he  called  on 


as  it  may 
LS  a  time 
onfidence 
.  In  the 
e  luariiecl 
'eaRure  in 
I  became 
1  account 
lightning 
ce  on  the 
ck  P.  M., 
^libors,  I 
every  re- 
'.  crossing 
and  used 
)wed  my 
it   with 

was  at- 
success. 
U'ches,  a 
5  Society 
its  exist- 
iustained 
He  read 
^ery  elo- 
)ur  cents 
lare  tlie 
I  us  that 
iud  that 
id  bene- 
tis  asked 
tions  of 
ailed  on 


THE  SOCIETY  OF  FAITH. 


35 


me,  handed  me  the  constitution  and  requested  me 
to  sign.  I  began  to  interrogate  him  on  its  design, 
when  he  said,  ''  that  1  might  be  partaker  of  the 
faith,  Imt  that  if  1  did  not  wish  to  sign  the  constitution 
he  AN'ould  go."  I  refused  to  gi\  e  up  without  an  explan- 
ation, and  wished  him  to  tell  me  how  inuch  faith  he 
sold  tor  four  cents  per  week,  and  if  he  sold  it  by  the 
pint,  by  the  yard,  or  by  the  pound.  He  grew"^  \'ery 
much  excited,  and  demanded  the  papor,  when  I 
charged  him  with  imposition,  and  read  from  the  Bible 
that  "  Jesus  Christ  is  author  and  finisher  of  our  faith," 
that  ''  by  grace  ye  are  saved,  that  not  of  vourselves, 
it  is  the  gift  of  God."  And  I  further  advised  him 
to  go  home  and  cease  to  practise  his  imposition.^ 
upon  the  people,  or  that  I  would  follow  him  round 
the  city  with  the  Bible  in  my  hand,  and  w^ould  ex- 
pose him  to  the  people.  I  did  follow^  him  through 
two  or  three  blocks  of  buildings,  but  he  did  not  call 
any  -here,  and  finally  returned  home,  and  I  heard  no 
]nore  of  the  Society  of  Faith. 


B2 


« 


CHAPTER  IV. 

My  zeal  in  the  Temperance  Reform.— How  I  prevailed  on  Bishop  L. 
to  move  in  the  enterprise  for  the  benetii  of  my  French  Brethren. 
—How  I  was  excluded  from  the  Society  because  T  opposed 
the  Money-making  projects  of  the  Priests.— My  grief  and  per- 
plexity.—Why  I  mingled  with  the  Protestants.— A  barrel  of 
beer  at  the  house  of  the  President  of  the  Temperance  Society. 

In  the  year  1841,  when  Bishop  L.  arrived  in  Detroit, 
the  cause  of  Temperance  had  begun  to  excite  con- 
siderable attention.  I  liad  for  sometime  previous 
enhsted  myseU'  in  this  good  cause,  and  while  1  beheld 
much  of  the  evils  of  iiitemi)erance,  I  had  seen  also  a 
^-«:reat  amount  of  good  resulting  from  the  enterprise. 
I  had  also  discovered  to  the  grief  of  my  heart,  that 
my  Romanist  brethren  were  given  to  habits  of  drink- 
ino"  too  freelv,  renderino-  themseh'<'s  beastlv  and  their 
families  poor  and  miserable ;  an<l  what  to  me  was 
still  worse,  I  had  become  satished  that  drinking  was 
the  prime  promoter  of  pi'ofanity  and  rpiarreling, 
which  was  by  for  too  common  among  them.  I  was 
still  a  Papist;  the  lirst  thought  of  changing  my 
religion  had  not  been  chei'ished,  and  the  Protestant  re- 
ligion was  as  much  as  ever  devil's  religion  to  me.  So 
on  the  arrival  of  the  Bisho])  I  hastened  to  make  his 
acquaintance,  inti'oduced  the  subject  of  tem]->eranc»\ 
and  aigurMl  tlie  necessity  of  a  t(^m])erance  society 
among  our  people.  The  Bishoj)  professed  to  be 
pleased  with  the  suggestion,  and  very  soon  called  a 


I  Bishop  L. 
I  Brethren. 
T  opposed 
;f  and  per- 
.  barrel  of 
ce  Society. 

Detroit, 
cite  con- 
previous 
1  beheld 
en  also  a 
iterprise. 
art,  that 
of  (Irink- 
rtnd  their 

nie  was 
king  was 
larreling, 
.  I  was 
rrino-  niv 
estant  re- 

Hie.  So 
make  his 
i]^oianc*\ 
e  society 
?d  to  ].)e 

called  a 


MY  ZEAL  IN  THE  TEMPERANCE  REFORM.    37 

meeting  to  consult  upon  the  propriety  of  such  an 
organization,  whicli  resulted  in  tlie  immediate  forma- 
tion of  a  Tonii)erance  Society,  .i  constitution  was 
prt;]»arod  and  presented,  hut  some  difterence  of  opin- 
ion arising  JUS  to  whether  heer  and  cider  were  intoxi- 
cating drinks,  or  if  tliey  contained  alcoliol,  a  commit- 
tee, com[)osed  of  nn\self  and  two  otliers,  Avere 
a[)pointed  to  procure  ]»rofessional  testimony  upon 
this  point.  We  accordingly  obtained  the  o])inions  of 
Doctoi's  Pitcher,  Russell  and  Hougliton,  to  the  eftect 
that  they  Avere  intoxicating,  and  coiisequentl}-  the 
use  of  them  was  excluded  from  our  pledge. 

It  was  in  this  temperance  society  which  1  had 
labored  so  nuich  to  establish,  that  my  first  disagree- 
ment Avith  the  Bishop  transpired.  1  *^had  been  asso- 
ciated with  the  Protestants  in  their  temperance 
operations,  and  had  partool;  of  their  zeal,  and  wished 
to  imitate  their  example.  But  my  zeal,  which  among 
Protestants  would  ha^  3  been  commendable,  v,as 
among  the  Romanists,  intolerable. 

My  tirst  oftensive  act  Avas  an  effort  in  a  speech  to 
stir  up  our  i)riests  and  leading  n  to  more  zeal  by 
showing  that  the  Protestants  Avere  actually  doing 
more  good  by  their  temperance  efforts,  than  Ave  Avere 
doing  by  all  the  ser\ices  of  the  church.  My  second 
and  most  serious  offenc  s  Avas  by  my  opj)osition  to 
one  feature  of  the  constitution  Avhich'l  thought  was 
unnecessary  and  in(N:>nsistent.  As  other  temperance 
societies  ysoro  ititi'oducMiig  benefit  features  into  their 
organizations,  so  i(  was  ])ro]>()sed  that  every  member 
.^^houW  pay  four  cents  a  week  int(^ours,  which  should 
create  a  fund  f<>r  tlieir  benefit.  But  the  benefits 
were  to  be,  the  })urcliasing  of  a  service  of  mass  for 
every  member  that  should  die.  This  was  repre^sented 
B  3 


J]  8 


MY  FIRST  OFFENSIVE  ACT. 


a  Nory  hlossod  fo.'ilino  in  tlio  organization,  that  all  of 
us  should  be  sharors  in  tlio  prcH-ious  iKMiotils  (jf  the 
prayers  of  the  priest  at  i.ui*  death.     The  idea  of  their 
assistance  in  the  'veovcrv  '»f  theii"  souls  froin  puro:a- 
torv  was,  to  many,  an  ini]»ortanr  eonsi'lcration ;  Imt, 
to  ine  it  Avas  pre]K)Strrous.      it  seemtMl  to  u\e  that  a 
teniperanee  society  and  the  church  were  two  diti'e rent 
things  an<l  that  if  any  of  the  people  should  abstain 
tVonr  drink  and  thus  invest  a  portion  of  their  savings, 
that  should  they  he  sick  or  unfortunate,  they  ought 
to  share  the  benefits  of  this  fund  NNhile  living".     So 
1  o]^p(»sed  the  sclienie  with  this  arguiuent:  ''that  if 
a  horse  could  have  his  oats  during  life  and  the  labor 
of  life,  they  might  do  him  good;  but  1  saw  no  pro- 
priety of  s{i\  ing  the  oats  till  he  wjts  dead."     The 
evident  design  was  to  bring  in  a  large  revenue  to  the 
])riests,   whrTse  schemes  I  1iad  for  some  time  been 
watching,   and  had  observed  tliat  e\  ery  project  had 
an  unlailing  tendency  to   this     ne  point.     But  my 
speech  was'very  offensive,  and  the  displeasure  of  the 
priests   was  excited  again-L   me;  and   at  the  next 
meeting  of   the  society  a  re\ised  constitution  was 
proposed  and  adopted, 'having  a  clause  prohil)iting 
any  person  from  speaking  in  the  meeting  except  at 
the  call  or  by  permission  of  the  Bisho]>.     This,  of 
course,    silenced  my  tongu<',  an<l  it  was   evidently 
desio-ned  to  prevenf  my  taking  a  part  in  the  proceed- 
ings. 

Being  thus  excludcHl  frrnn  the  only  fi<'ld  of  useful- 
ness where  I  thought  T  conhl  labor  for  the  good  of 
my  brethren,  I  informed  the  Bishop  that  in  religion, 
1  could  submit  to  him  and  to  the  priests;  but  in  the 
temperance  cause,  1  must  be  a  free  man,  and  if  they 
would  not  allow  me  to  talkln  their  meetings,  I  must 


"  TR  THAT  BEER  FOR  TTTK  BTfiTIOP  V 


.*59 


hat  all  of 
its  of  the 
a  of  tlK'ir 
in  purc:''t- 
tioii;  \n\i 
lie  that  a 
)  dirteiviit 
id  fibstalii 
ir  savings, 

lOV  OllQ'llt 

,''mii.     So 

"that  if 

the  labor 

iv  no  pro- 

id."     The 

me  to  the 

ime  been 

roject  had 

But   iny 

ire  of  the 

the  next 

iition  Avas 

»roliil)iting 

except  at 

ThiP,  of 

evidently 

o  pi'oceed- 

of  iiseful- 
10  good  of 
n  religion, 
but  in  the 
md  if  thev 
igs,  I  must 


beg  leave  to  witlidraw.  Tliis  was  tlie  most  painful 
wound  T  had  ever  recei\ed  from  the  ehurcli.  I  was 
a  Roman  Catholic;  my  desir<.  was  to  labor  with  and 
for  the  henelit  iA'  the  chiircli;  l.iit  being  cut  otf  tVom 
this  privilege  I  mingled  UKue  freely  with  Piolestant 
people  hi  their  \arious  organizations.  For  this  too 
they  waged  ])e.seeution  against  me,  and  when  T 
joinp<l  tho  S(»ns  of  Temperance,  a  severe  attack  was 
made  upon  nic  i'ny  having  joined  a  '^secret  society," 
and  tli(^  jx'ople  were  warned  against  folk'  ing  me 
into  such  acts  of  wickedness. 

Some  few  weeks  after  m}'  withdrawal  from  thd 
Romanist.,  Tem]X'rance  Societ}-,  an  incident  trans- 
pired wliieh,  though  it  wiis  on  niy  part  an  exhibition 
of  gieat  insolence,  yet  \  felt  justified  in  reproving 
<^ne  of  the  principal  actors  in  tji is  temperance  society! 
Passing  a  brewery,  i  obser\i'd  the  sei'vant  of  the 
Bishop  enter  with  a  note  in  his  hand.  My  curiosity 
somewhat  excited,  and  being  a  little  suspicious  too, 
I  followed  him  in,  and  learned  from  the  clerk  tliat  it 
w^as  an  order  tbi-  a  barrel  of  l)eer,  to  be  taken  to  the 
Bishop's  residence  after  niiui  o'clock  in  the  evening. 
At  the  hour  of  nine,  I  was  pacing  my  way  to  and 
fro  past  the  house  when  the  dray  arrived.  Said  I  to 
the  drayman,  -  Is  that  beer  foi-  the  Bishop?"  and  re- 
ceiving an  answer  in  the  affirmati\e,  I  proffered  my 
services  to  ring  the  bell.  I  did  so,  and  was  careful  to 
ring  the  bell  which  1  knew  would  call  out  the  Bishop 
in  person.  When  he  opened  the  door  I  :  Idiv  ssed 
him  thus:  '^Bishop,  this  man  lias  brought  a  barrel 
of  beer  for  the  Pi-esident  of  the  Temperance  Socie- 
ty." The  door  was  suddenly  shut  in  my  face  and 
the  President  r^itired  from  observation. 


B  4 


CHAPTER  V. 

My  eontinued  respect  for  the  Bishop  as  my  only  Spu-itual  (Juide  — 
How  strong  and  galling  are  the  chains  of  superstition  —My 
fears  and  dread  of  purgatory  —My  hatred  of  the  Bible  —How  I 
happened  first  to  read  it.— What  I  read  I  thought  must  be  the 
vehgion  of  the  Sons  of  Temperance— I  took  the  New  Testament 

to  Bishop  L .—How  he  condemned  it      T  returned  it  to  its 

owner.— Purchased  a  New  Testament  —My  fears  of  guilt  and 
dread  of  penance.— I  obtaimd  u  Bible  —Surprising  discovery  of 
the  guilt  of  idolatry  —Took  the  Bible  to  the  Bi-hop  —He  con- 
demned it  again —Would  not  destroy  it  —The  end  of  our 
friendship  -Visit  to,  and  opinion  of.  Proto.stant  Ohurchea  — 3Iy 
ridicule  of  the  Methodist.<».— What  the  Bible  says  of  Women 
speaking  and  praying  in  Mectin^r  — The  urowiug  distre'^i^  of  my 
heart  -  ^  c  j 

After  all  tliat  T  havf  slatod  '^o  Bishop  was  still  my 
spiritual  guide,  and  Sabbath  dtter  Sabbath  I  sat  under 
his  teaching,  and  occasionally  wont  to  confession. 
But  the  scapular  imposition,  following  the  tempei- 
ance  movement,  gi-eatly  increased  my  peiplexity,  and 
the  intervening  tinie,  from  the  yeai- 1842  to  January, 
184  9,  was  to  me  a  period  of  most  indiscribal)le  men- 
tal anguish  and  solicitude.  The  chain  which  binds 
the  child  of  superstition  to  the  errois  imbibed  in  youth, 
is  strong  as  adamant ;  none  but  tlie  slavc  of  such  in- 
delible Impressions  can  I'ealize  its  gallino-  influence. 
Without  superhuman  courage,  who  can  resist  the 
strength  of  such  fears  as  result  from  the  teaching:] 
that  the  priests  hold  the  keys  of  heaven  and  hell,  and 
that  their  continuation  in  the  pains  of  purgatory,  or 


'"^ 


1  OtiTATK  Turin  T.nAv  nv  k  mutjc. 


41 


ual  Huide  — 
rstitiou  — My 
Mblo  — How  I 
must  be  the 
;w  Teatament 
rued  it  to  its 
of  guilt  and 
I  discovery  of 
op — He  con- 
end  of  our 
lurched. — My 
s  of  Women 
istre':-^  of  my 


as  still  inv 
[  sHt  under 
confession. 
e  tempei- 
exity,  and 
:»  January, 
'al)l<'  men- 
liicli  binds 
I  in  youth, 
)i'  such  in- 
influence. 
resist  the 
teacliingu 
I  hell,  and 
gatoiy,  or 


release  from  them,  depends  upon  the  individual  inten- 
tion and  the  ])rayers  of  those  pastoi-s  of  the  church. 
Oil  how  j^ainful,  how  distressing  the  conflict,  charac- 
terised as  it  is  too,  by  all  the  dreadful  epithets  of  in- 
fidel and  heritic !  I  ha^'e  no  language  to  describe  the 
horrors  of  mind  I  sometimes  endured,  from  the 
'bought  and  the  feai',  that  in  my  opposition  to  the 
Bishop  and  the  church,  I  might  br-ng  upon  me  all 
the  curses  1  had  heard  pronounced  upon  the  apos- 
tates. Yet  God,  who  is  full  of  compassion,  and 
abundant  in  mercy  and  gra<:*e,  has  had  mercy  upon 
me,  leading  me  by  a  way  that  I  knew  not,  and  caus- 
ing that  which  I  most '  despised  to  be  my  guiding 
star. 

In  the  month  of  September,  1847,  my  opinions  of 
Protestantism  as  a  system  of  religion,  were  not  at  all 
modified,  and  my  hatred  toward  their  Bible  was  such 
that  had  I  found  one  in  the  street,  I  should  ha\'e  tramp- 
Jed  it  under  foot.  During  this  month,  while  waiting 
on  a  business  errand  in  the  store  of  Mr.  F.  Wetmore, 
I  occupied  the  passing  moments  by  exaipining  a  book 
which  lay  upon  the  counter.  The  book  being  in  the 
Fren(^h  language,  I  obtained  the  loan  of  it  for  more 
extended  perusal.  The  moral  lessons  it  imparted, 
were  such  as  I  had  seen  exhibited  in  the  deportment 
of  members  of  the  tem])erance  association  to  Avhich  I 
then  l.)eloiiged.  I  had,  again  and  again,  observed 
to  my  wife,  that  I  could  not  understand  what  there 
was  in  the  Order  of  the  ''Sons  of  Tem])erance"  that 
could  make  them  so  kind  and  so  brotherly,  for  I 
found  men  of  nil  kinds  of  reh'gions  there,  and  yet  they 
all  seemed  to  love  one  another  as  brethren,  and  I  felt 
constrained  to  confess  that  tlie  moral  influence  of  their 
principles  was  more  salutary  than  even  that  of  our 

Bo 


h  t 


*% 


42 


lyrV  TWrlTTr^WT«  AM  THW  mWT/W. 


Roman  religion.  After  reading  some  pages  of  the 
book  in  the  store,  I  hastened  to  my  home,  and  in- 
formed my  wife  I  had  fonnd  a  book  which  had  got 
the  rehgion  of  the  Sons  of  Temperance  in  it.  I 
thought  I  could  not  be  mistaken,  for  I  had  read  on 
first  opening  the  book  in  Matt,  xi,  28,  29  and  30 : 
"  Come  unto  me,  all  ye  tliat  labor,  and  are  heavy 
laden,  and  I  will  giye  you  lest.  Take  my  yoke  upon 
you,  and  learn  of  me,  for  I  am  meek  and  lowly  of 
heart,  and  ye  shall  find  rest  to  yom*  souls;  for  my 
yoke  is  easy,  and  my  burden  is  light." 

My  Avife,  Avitl,  myself,  admired  the  beautiful  senti- 
ments and  counsels  of  the  good  book,  and  with  great 
eagerness  we  read  its  blessed  pages,  growing  more 
and  more  delighted  Avith  its  exposition  of  a  religion, 
havinof  fio  wonderful  a  tendency  to  make  all  men  love 
one  another. 

Up  to  this  time,  the  Methodists,  the  Presbyterians, 
the  Baptists,  and  all  otlier  denominations,  were,  to 
me,  difterent  religions;  but  1  liad  read  this  book  at 
first  with  no  suspicion  that  it  Avas  Protestant.  But 
the  contrast  betAveen  these  teachings,  and  the  prac- 
tices of  my  Roman  brethren,  being  so  great,  I  con- 
cluded that  if  the  Bisho]>  should  be  apprised  of  the 
excellence  of  this  book,  he  might  rec<  aimend  it  to 
the  people,  and  by  it,  do  them  nuich  good.  So  I 
hastened  aAvay  to  the  Bishop,  shoAved  him  the  book, 
and  began  pointing  out  its  excellencies ;  Avhen,  to  my 
surprise,  he  j^i'ofessed  to  ha\e  been  for  a  long  time 
ac([uaint<'d  with  it,  cond(Mnn<'d  it  in  unmeasunMl  (vrms, 
as  the  Aery  Avorst  of  books,  and  ilemanded  that  it 
should  be  returned  to  the  OAvner  immediately.  Like 
a  fr'thful  son  of  the  church,  I  returned  the  book  to^ 
"h.-  >Avner,  though  not  Avithout  reluctance  and  regret* 


% 
4 


"^ 


es  of  the 
,  and    in- 

bad  got 
in  it.  I 
[  read  on 

and  30 : 
ire  heavy 
■oke  upon 
.  lo-vvly  of 
\;  for  my 

:ifiil  senti- 
.vith  great 
dng  more 
a  religion, 
men  love 

>l)yterians, 
5,  were,  to 
is  book  at 
ant.     But 

the  prac- 
'at,  I  con- 
ied  of  the 
iiend  it  to 
od.     So  I 

the  book, 
len,  to  mv 
long  time 
inMl  (vrmrt, 
3d  that  it 
?lv.  Like 
le  b(3ok  to 
md  regret. 


T  AM  FORBIDDEN  BY  THE  BISHOP  TO  READ  IT.  43 

This  book  was  the  New  Testament  of  our  Lord  and 
Saviour  Jesus  Christ,  and  this  was  my  first  acquaiu- 
tiiiice  with  till"  Book  of  (xod  —  the  Word  of  Life. 

But,  thoun-h  deprived  of  the  ble.^sed  book,  the 
spirit  of  its  pagx^s  seemed  to  follow  me,  like  an  angel 
of  mercy,  and  both  night  and  day,  its  hallowed  sen- 
timentsopei-ated  upon  my  heart,  creating  a  longing 
for  a  more  intimate  acquaintance  with  its  eounst^ls. 
Not  many  months  after,  while  at  Amherstburg,  in 
(.\nnada,  \  had  an  opportunity  to  purchase  a  Testa- 
ment of  a  colporteur,  which  I  did  for  the  sum  of  one 
shilling  and  sixpence.  But  nevei'  did  thief  lay  hold 
of  foibidden  fruit  with  more  trembling  and  feaiful- 
ness,  than  1  di<l  upon  that  saci'ed  volume.  This 
*;mall  sum  spent  on  !*  })rotestant  book,  I  well  knew 
wouW  subject  me  to  frowns,  and  threats,  and  severe 
penance.  But  the  lucid  lessons  of  life,  read  as  from 
the  lips  of  the  Savioui",  soon  revived  those  fonuer 
feelings  of  admiration  for  such  a  book,  the  tendency 
of  wiiich  could  but  be  to  make  all  men  good  and 
happy.  But  before  I  had  a\'ailed  myself  of  the  ben- 
tit8  of  the  confessional  for  the  sin  of  this  purchase,  I 
received  the  faNor  of  the  whole  Bibles  of  a  Mr.  Mary, 
a  colporteur  from  Montreal,  in  Canada.  This  opened 
a  new  field  for  investigation,  and  I  now  read  the  true 
ten  commaudnients  of  my  Crod  for  the  first  time  in 
Uiy  life.  I  saw  too,  with  great  surprise,  th<'  mu- 
tilated, condition  in  whicli  the  divine  law  had  been 
taught  me  tVom  my  childhood.  1  felt  horror-stricken 
at  the  thought  of  the  perversion  by  the  priests  of 
those  conmiandnients  which  foibid  us  to  bow  down  to, 
or  to  worship  images.  The  law,  as  taught  by  the 
priestt:,  was  that  wo  nught  hoiu  down  to,  so  we  did 
not  worship  the  material  of  tvhich  the  image  toas 

B  e  - 


44 


MY  FEARS  PROVOKED. 


i. 


made ;  but  that  to  pray  to  Mary,  to  Peter,  and  other 
Saints,  through  these  pictures,  was  not  vsin  against 
God.  Yet  the  commandment  reads  (Exodus  xx. 
4,  5,  and  6  ),  "  Thou  slialt  not  make  unto  thee  any 
graven  image,  or  the  Ukeness  of  any  tiling  that  is  in 
heaven  above  or  that  is  in  the  earth  beneath,  or  in 
the  waters  under  the  earth.  Tho2f  shalt  not  boiu 
down  thyself  to  them,  nor  serve  them  for  1  the  Lord 
thy  God  ain  a  jealous  God,  visiting  the  iniquity  of 
the  fathers  upon  the  children  unto  the  third  and  fourth 
generation  of  them  that  hate  me ;  and  showing  mer- 
cy unto  thousands  of  them  that  love  me  and  keep  my 
commandments."  Now  it  was  that  my  fears  came 
like  a  flood  upon  me ;  if  this  was  the  law  of  God,  1 
was  living  in  the  guilt  of  idolatry  daily ;  and  while 
my  sins  were  provoking  God  to  jealousy,  I  was  con- 
stantly heaping  up  wrath  foi'  my  own  beloved  chil- 
dren. But  wiio  could  relieve,  who  could  teach  me  ? 
I  had  but  one  spiritual  guide,  and  that  was   Bishop 

L ,  to  whom  1  I'esolved  to  go  again,  show  him 

this  book,  and  seek  his  learned  counsel.  To  the 
Bishop  I  went,  but  with  no  better  success  than  before, 
for  he  not  only  condemned  the  book,  but  demanded 
its  destruction.  I  begged  he  woidd  lend  me  some 
book  by  which  I  could  learn  how  to  live  as  a  christian 
should,  and  bring  up  my  children  in  (he  fear  of  God, 
but  he  answered  me  rouglily,  saying :  ''  You  need  no 
book ;  obey  your  priests,  and  you  will  do  well  enough." 
I  interrogated  him  upon  certain  portions  of  the  Bible, 
in  the  commandments,  and  in  1  Tim.  iv.,  of  what  the 
Spirit  saith  of  those  who  should  come,  teaching  fal^e 
doctrines,  foihi'.lJ.ino-  to  marry,  commandiiLQ*  to  abstain 

O  ^  '  ••11 

from  meats,  (fee ;  but  the  Bishop  grew  quite  exciied  and 
treated  me  so  badly  that  1  was  both  disappointed  and 


and  other 
n  against 
codus  XX. 

tliee  any 
that  is  in 
ath,  or  in 
t  not  bow 

the  Lord 
tiiquity  of 
uid  fourth 
rving  mer- 

keep  my 
?ars  came 
of  God,  1 
md  while 

was  con- 
^ved  chil- 
Deaeh  me  ? 
as  Bishop 
iiliow  him 
To  the 
laii  before, 
lemanded 

me  some 
a  christian 
ar  of  God, 
)U  need  no 
I  enough.'' 
tlie  Bible, 
P  what  the 
?hing  false 
•  to  abstain 
'xciied  and 
ointed  and 


I  CALL  ON  THE  BISHOP  TO  OBTAIN  COUNSEL.      46 

grieved.   My  call  upon  the  Bishop  was  from  the  sincerty 
of  my  heart  to  obtain  counsel  how  to  live  and  how  to 
die.    Had  it  been  in  his  power  to  present  a  reasonable 
argument  against  the  Bible,  T  believe  I  should  have 
oiven  it  its  deserved  consideration.     But  when  he, 
ai  an  unreasonable  manner,  and  without  an}^  reason, 
condemned  what  was  evidently  so  good,  1  became 
auspicious  that  the  YV  ord  of  God  was  not  the  guide 
of  his  heart.     I  then  distinctly  informed  him  that  I 
began  to  doubt  whethei-,  as  a  preacher,  he  preached 
the  truth  from  the  Word  of  God,  and  that  rather 
than  destroy  it,  1  sh  )uld  take  the  Bible  to  church 
every  Sunck}  and  ^vatch  him  in  his  scriptui^   read- 
ings'^ and  preaching,  to  satisfy  myseh'  as  to  this  fact. 

"^riiis  conversation  closed  the  friendly  acquaintance 
which  so  long  had  existed  between  me  and  my  only 
leli.Tious  counsellor,  yet  for  two  whole  years  1  waited 
upon  his  ministry,  '^always  taking  my  Bible  to  test 
the  doctrines  he  preached. 

My  wife,  who,  from  the  time  tlie  Bishop  con- 
demned tlie  Testament,  had  been  restless  and  fearful, 
anticipating'  with  trembling  the  dread  conseqtiences 
c»f  tlie  anathemas  of  the  priests,  now  began  to  grow 
more  interested  in  the  study  of  the  Scriptures  herself, 
and  after  much  consul tation'we  solemnly  concluded  no 
more  to  l)ow  down  to  images,  or  to  make  the  sign  of 
the  cross,  either  at  home  o\-  at  church.  This  change 
in  our  deportment  was  soon  discovered,  and  we  be- 
came objects  of  observation  at  church  and  abroad, 
and  the  denunciations  of  the  priests  l^egan  to  fall 

fearfnllv  upon  us. 

By  tiiis  conclusion,  and  the  result  of  my  criticisms  on 
the  preaching  and  chai'acter  of  the  priests,  by  which 
1  had  lost  all  contidw^^  W  thrift  ^  te'AChera  of  re- 


li 


4G     VISIT  THE  DIFFERENT  PROTESTANT  CIirRCHES. 

]igion,  A\o  wereas  aship  driven  out  to  sea  without 
compass  o]-  diart.  The  services  of  the  Church  of 
Rome  had  uo  longer  any  tliiuo-  even  sacred  in  tli«?ni, 
yet  I  wa:;  nothing  but  a  Romanist.  This  wa-s  an 
hour  of  trial,  thi^  was  indeed  the  hour  of  darknes,^-.  to 
my  soul;  I  was  trying  to  be  a  Christian,  but  what 
form  I  should  assume  1  had  not  the  most  i-emote 
conception. 

As  succeeding  Sahbaths  returned,  we  now  wan- 
dered round  the  city,  ^  isiting  the  different  Protes- 
tant churches,  wliieh  we  still  supposed  were  all 
different  i-eligions;  while  we  had  serious  doubts  if 
any  one  of  them  could  be  the  ti'ue  religion  of  God. 
We  heard  excehent  sermons  among' the  Episco- 
palians and  Pj-eslyterians,  among  the  Baptists 
and  the  Meth(jdists,  but  AAhatever  good  we  heard, 
could  not  l)e  appreciated,  eoming  from  sources  we 
hn  1  been  ANont  to  regard  with  so  mucli  suspicion. 
':  .i'  Methodists,  of  alfotlieis  attracted  our  attention, 
and  contributed  to  our  amusement,  especially  when  a 
woman  arose  in  one  of  their  serAices,  making  both  a 

speech  and  a  pimer.     Mrs. P ol>sei-ved  that  thev 

could  not  be  the  i)eot)le  of  God,  for  who  e\er  heard 
of  ladies  officiating  at  ehurch .'  But  in  our  Bible 
perusals  we  were  soon  led  to  correct  these  our  hastv 
conclusions,  when  we  read  in  Luke,  2  chap.  50  ver^e, 
that  when  tlie  Saviour  was  jM-ei^ented  at  the  teuiple  of 
Jerusalem,  and  Simeon  had  closed  his  rejoicings  in 
God  :  ''  There  was  one  Anna,  a  prophetess,  entered 
at  that  instant,  and  she  gave  thanks  likewise  to  the 
Lord,  and  spake  of  him  to  all  them  that  looked  for 
redemption  in  Jerusalem."  We  read  too,  in  1  Coi., 
XI,  o,  what  St,  Paul  wrole  about  women  and  their 
privileges  in  the  church  of  God.     Here  we  were  con- 


RCHES. 

.  without 
hurcli  of 
in  tlioni, 
is  was  an 
rkucfN^.  to 
but  what 
t  I'omote 


ow  ^van- 
:  Protes- 
were  all 
loubts  if 

of  God. 

Episco- 

Baptists 
e  heard, 
lu'ce.s  we 
iispicioii. 
ttention, 
7  wlieii  a 
i'  both  a 
hat  tliev 
iv  heard 
ir  Bible 
iir  hastv 
»6  ver^e, 
^'iiple  of 
Lyings  in 
entered 
e  to  the 
ked  for 

1  Cor., 
d  tlieir 
ere  con- 


« 


^m 


MY  DESIRE  TO  f  IND  THE  TRUE  RELIGION.        47 

viiiced  that  according  to  the  Apostles'  teaching,  wo- 
men might  take  a  part  in   tlie   worship   of  God, 
when  adorned  with  that  chastity  of  attire  which   be- 
coraeth  their  sex.     And  here  again  our  perplexity 
increased,  and  what  could  be  truth  or  what  was  error, 
were  to  us  alike  ponderous  (questions.     Month  after 
month  passed  away,  during  which  we  took  no^  part 
m  relio-ious  worship  anywhere.     We   still  continued 
to  read  the  vScriptures,"  and  every  circumstance  like 
the  above  excited  our  eagerness  to  learn  the  truth  as 
God  had  taught  it  to  his  people.     We  gamed  much 
light  on   the  subject   of  practical  pieiy,    and  while 
with  reflection  I  viewed  it,  we  were  waiting  at  the 
"  Pool  of  Bethesda,"  but  had  no  friendly  hand,  when 
the  waters  were  troubled  to  aid  us,  to   step  in  that 
we  might  be  healed. 

How  amazingly  both  the  wisdom  and  mercy  ot 
God  are  manifest  in  the  events.  We  were  attracted 
by  no  displays  of  pomp  or  ceremonies,  by  no  exliibition 
of  correct  or  most  consistent  creeds;  but  God  by  his 
own  spirit,  prepared  our  hearts  for  the  embrace  of  His 
salvation,  that  in  our  lives  and  death  we  might  glo- 
rify Him. 

I  had  now  one  desire  abo^e  all  others,  and  that 
was  to  find  the  true  religion  of  the  Son  of  God  for 
the  salvation  of  my  soul  1  w^anted  too,  just  such 
a  i-eligion  as  I  found  described  by  the  lives,  teach- 
iniTs,  and  death  of  Jesus  Christ  and  his  Apostles; 
but  I  had  no  earthly  teacher.  The  reader  may 
imagine  better  than  I  can  describe  the  painfulness 
of  this  hour  of  darkness.  I  have  heard,  1  have  read 
nothing,  so  graphically  debcriptive  of  my  case,  as  the 
following  stanzas  by  Rev.  C.Wesley,  Methodist  Hymn 
Book,  page  252 : 


I 


!■ 


4S  LIKEe  DE8CRIMIVE  OF  MY  CA6E. 

*'  A  poor  blind  child  I  wander  here, 
If  haply  I  may  feel  thee  near. 
0  dark  !  dark !  dark !  I  still  must  say, 
Amidst  the  blaze  of  gospel  day . 

Thee,  only  thee,  I  fain  would  find, 
And  cast  the  world  and  flesh  behind  ; 
Thou,  only  thou,  to  mo  be  given, 
Of  all  thou  hast  in  earth  or  heaven." 


,n 


[a 

4 


4! 


m. 


1 1 


say, 


I; 


CHAPTER  VI. 

My  continued  distress  of  mind. — IIow  unexpcctedl)' I  A\ent  to  the 
Second  AI.E.  Ciiurch. — How  the  power  of  the  Holy  Ghoist  fell 
upon  me. — My  conversion. — More  light  from  the  Bible. — 3Ty 
fears  resulting  from  former  .superstitions  — The  beuetit  of  good 
counsel. — My  Roman  baptism  with  oil,  ^alt.  and  cream. — My 
Christian  baptism  with  pure  water. 

It  was  in  the  inontli  of  December,  1849,  while  labor- 
ing undei'  the  state  of  mental  H;iispense  and  i^olicitiide, 
spoken  'f  ill  the  preceding  chapter,  that  a  Sabbath 
dawned  upon  the  Avorld,  the  mem<jrv  of  Avhich,  will 
never  b«-  ^^ra^ed  from  our  hearts.  We  arose  witli  the 
brightness  of  day,  but  to  us  all  Sabbath  days  were 
days  of  gloom,  while  tlirough  the  city  we  wandered, 
as  "throuo'li  dry])laces,  seekino'  rest  and  iindinu'  none." 
Beino'  wearv  with  our  wanderino-s,  we  resohed  this 
day  to  return  to  the  house  ^^'e  had  partly  forsfiken, 
with  but  little  hope  of  finding  it  ''swept  and  gar- 
iiished''  with  the  truth  of  God ;  for  we  ha<l  long  since 
become  satistied  that  e\'ery  lesson  (.>f  pretended  in- 
struction given  here,  but  darkened  counsel  by  Avoirb^ 
without  knowledge.  But  the  Sabbath  must  be  spent 
oome  way,  and  to  relie\  e  its  o-loomy  tediousness  we 
tarted  once  more  to  hear  the  Latin  songs  and  wit- 
ness the  unscriptural  d<notions.  But  on  om-  way  to 
the  French  Catholic  Church  we  i)assed  tlie  Second 
M.  E.  Church  on  Congress  street,  where  the  Re\'.  G. 


» 


50 


MY  CONVERSION. 


Taylor  was  pastor,  and  Mrs.  P enquired  wlat 

people  worsiiippiMl  theni  ?  and  beinu;  informed,  at. 
her  proposal,  we  \\(Mit  in  witli  \\\o  oatherino-  idu- 
redation.     Our  attonti(jn  was  soon  arrested  by  the 


g 


readino-  of  a  hynni  l)V  the  pastor  in  a  most,  sokmn 
and  aflectino-  maniici',  followed    l)y  such  a  praye?  a^^ 
I  thouivlit  no  human  l)eini^  ever  made  l^efore.     vSuch 
an   overwhelming  sense  of  the   divine   presence  fell 
upon  me,  that  I  could  conceive  of  nothing  hut  that 
God  was   there,  and  so  nowerfully  was  mv  heart  af- 
fected  that  I  burst  into  tears  and  wept  jjrofusely,  and 
when  rising  from  our  inclined  }>osition  during  prayer, 
I  found  my  companion  similaiiy  affected  and  wee|.ing 
at  my  side.     The  sermon  which  followed,  with  hynn, 
prayer  and  all  parts  (»f  the  ser\ice  seemed  to  be  all  ad 
dressed  to  me,  descri])ti\e  of  my  case,  and  perfbrmei 
in  my  behalf.     These  w(Me  uiuisual  emotions  to  our 
hearts;  thev  could  not  be  imao-iuarv,  for  we  had  no 
idea,  or  anticipation  of  sueh  intluences,  but  as  with 
the  strano-ers  at  Jerusalem  on  the  day  (A  Penticost, 
the  Hoi v  Ghost  had  fallen  upon  us  while  we  listened 
to  his  ])reached  words.      I   waited  not   to   enquire 
concerning  the  apostolic  deseent  of  the  authority  of 
the  minister,  but  recognized  in  him  tlie  messenger  of 
peace,  as  an  angel  of  light  to  guide  my  fearful  stepr,. 
I  felt  that  at  the  ''  Pool  of  Bethesda"  the  Son  of 
God  had  met  me   to  bid   me  to  be  whole.     The  re- 
r:«olye  was  here  made,  ''  This  people  shall  be  my  peo- 
ple, and  their  God  sliall  be  my  God,"  and  jiassing 
out  of  the  house,  as  m\  eompanioii  took  hold  on  my 
arm,  I  said    to  her,  *'  this  is  my  home,"  and  she 
havino'   been   simultaneously   blessed   with   myself, 
answered,  ''  and  mine  too. 
We  now  hastened  to  oiu'  home  and  read  God*s 


STTLL  ITXDER  TTTE  TTTRALDOM  OF  SUPER^TTTTOX.    51 


3d  \vl:at 
iiied,  III. 
11  (V  imi- 
[  by  the 

4 

soknin 

.     Such 
once  fell 
hut Ihat 
leart.  al- 
so Iv,  and 
y  )>rayor, 
woe|  ing 
h  livnii, 
be  all  ad 
orfbrmei 
ns  to  our 
had  no 
as  with 
*enticost, 
1  listened 
enquire 
hority  of 
senger  of 
ful  stepn. 
?  Son  of 
The  re- 
my  peo- 
l  ])assing 
Id  on  my 
and  she 
I    myself. 

>ad  God*f5 


4 


Holy  Woid  with  renewed  eagerness  and  delight,  re- 
joicing as  did  tht^  shephei'ds  of  old,  who  led  by  the 
''  siar  in  llie  <'ast''  liad  found  lln.^  [>r()Miis<'d  Saviour. 
Til '  pa;;tor  ha  vino;  advertise']  a  ola.it;  meeting  in  the 
ha.^omenf  (^f  lli''  (hurcli  for  Moii'lay  c. ening,  I  niad«» 
niv  way  lo  the  spot  at  an  <'aily  hour,  and  plaeing 
inysolf  in  a  eons])icuons  ])osition,  was  soon  ol)seiA>Ml 
hy  tiie  h^adt'i',  Hon.  Ivoss  Wilkins,  by  whose  pious 
eounsels  1  was  still  moiv  enlightened  and  eneouraged 
lo  l>elie\e  in  the  Son  of  God  to  th*^  sahation  of  my 
soul.  May  trod  abundant  I  \'  reward  him  and  the 
pastor  of  tiie  ehuivh,  through  wliose  patient  and  per- 
severing eounsels  and  assistane<',  I  and  my  dear  fem- 
ily  have  been  ma<le  partakers  oi'  the  hope  and  joy  of 
this  salvation  I 

But  let  not  the  leader  supjjose  that  because  1  speak 
of  being  blessed  with  a  sense  of  the  di\'ine  presence, 
and  in  the  hands  o\'  good  counsel,  that  the  work  of 
my  recoverv  from  the  thraldom  of  superstition  was 
perfected.  It  ^\as  now  that  I  began  to  feel  the  full 
power  of  docti'iues  wliicli  wcr^'  engrafted  upon  my 
mind  in  the  days  of  my  youth.  1  luui,  up  to  this 
time  read  the  Bible,  not  as  the  system  of  the  Protest- 
ant religion,  but  as  the  word  and  religion  of  God; 
but  now  to  my  surprise  L  was  embracing  the  Protest- 
ant religion.  Now  u])on  my  mind,  with  ghost-like 
hideousness,  iiished  all  my  former  \iews  of  this 
>^ystem,  f>-^  the  relio-iou  of  <levilsand  the  road  to  hell. 
The  horrid  exeommunications  to  which  I  had  more 
ilian  once  listened,  until  my  blood  ran  chill,  seemed 
to  be  sounding  in  my  ears  in  all  their  appalling  fear- 
fuhit^v--,  and  the  anticipatii^n  <^\'  the  awful  denuncia- 
tions and  dieaded  epithets,  such  as  Intldel,  Heritic, 
Apostate,  and  Deyil,  which  I  knew^  would  now  be 


A 


52 


I  ATTEND  A  LOVE  FEAST. 


Ml 


prououiiced  ii|mhi   iik',  produced  many  very  unpleas- 
ant sensations.     Tf  it  were  true  that,  the  priests  l;old 
the  kevs  ot'lieaven  and  liell,  and  if  witliout  their  in- 
tercessions souls  nnist  remain  tor  ever  in  purgatory, 
I  was  aware  that  the  blackness  of  darkness  would  be 
\nv  portion  fi»r  «'\'er.      I  stood   now  as  upon  a  lock 
with  only  a  foothold  surface;    behind  me  were  the 
quicksands  of  superstition  and  delusion,  whicli  I  saw 
were  full  of  idolatrv  and  sin;  and  ];eforeme  was  the 
enchanted  o-round  which  I  had  conscientiously  avoided 
through  all    my  lift*  as  the  path  that  leads  directly 
down  to  the  shades  of  death.      It,   was  my  earnest 
desire,   that  leaving  one  cii'oi',   t  might  not  plunge 
mvself  into  a  a'l'eatei',  and  so  expi'cssed  myself  in  the 
first  lo^■e  feast  1  attended.     1   said  rl  seemed  to  me 
that  1  had  just  broken  out  tVom  a  tlark  cellar,  where 
for  folly  years  1  had  L»een  hid   from  the  lio-ht  of  the 
sun,  and  feared,  lest  that  with  mv  eyes  dazzled  by 
its  sudden  brightness,  1  might  rush  unwittingly,  over 
some  feartul  precipice,     i  said  J    was  sitting  upon 
the  fence,  ready  to  leap  on  the  side  of  Protestantism, 
but  desired  most  earnestly  that  it.  was  a  large  stone, 
t»i'oad  and  secure,  on  which  T  could  biiihl  my  hopes 
of  salvation. 

Considerations  like  those  of  the  salvation  of  my 
own  soul  and  the  souls  of  my  family,  were  nottrities; 
this  was  a  work  for  eternity,  and  all  tlu»  interest  in- 
\  olved  therein  wei'e  of  eternal  duration.  But  to  (iod 
be  all  the  glory,  the  day  of  decision  soon  arrived,  for 
throuo'h  the  mercy  of  Uod  I  had  been  conducted  to 
a  teacher  wlio  could  successfully  point  me  to  the 
''  Lamb  of  God  which  taketh  awav  the  sin  of  the 
world." 

The  first  services  recei>ed  from  my  new  spiritual 


•  <•« 


THE  BENEFIT  OF  GOOD  COUNSEL. 


53 


Liiipleas- 
sts  l:old 
heir  in 

ould  be 
[  a  lock 
inx'  tlie 
li  1  saw 
was  the 
avoided 
directly 
earnest 
plunge 
If  in  the 
I  to  me 
r,  where 
.t  ol*  the 
:zled  bv 
i'lv,  over 
ig  upon 
tantisni, 
>*e  stone, 
ly  liopes 

n  of  my 
)t  trifles ; 
erest  in- 
t  to  God 
ived,  for 
ucted  to 
!  to  tlie 
1  of  the 

spiritual 


guide  were  in  frequent  N'isitB  to  my  house  for   th« 
purpose^  of  e\])laining  1o  us  the  word  of  Clod.     Mrs. 

p. and  nivseh'   being  }>rovided    with    BibK-;  in 

the  French  language,  and   Mr.  T witli  one  in 

Eno'lif-h,  we  directed  his  attention  to  many  oi'  tho^^e 
difheult  ]M.rtions  of  the  Scri^.tures,  \\hi«.]i  to  u:\  were 
inexi)licable.  ENery  visit  ga\e  us  increasing  hght, 
especially  did  we  [)rotit  by  an  e\|>hniation  of  the  ten 
commandments,  and  the  great  myster\  in  the  ;i.\th 
cliapter  of  tlie  (h)'  p '1  of  St.  John,  concerning  tiie 
eatino-  th<'  b«»dy  and  drinking  the  I'lood  of  .le-^u-o 
Christ.  Tiiis  n'lysterious  chapter,  by  which  the  doc- 
trine of  transubstantiatioii  is  sup|)orted  by  the  Kouian 
C'hiu'cli,  ap])eared  to  me  in  its  proper  light  as  soon  a>'« 
1  liad  ac([uired  a  knowledge  of  saving  taith.  1 
read  indeed,  in  \  eise  511 :  '^  Exce])t  ye  eat  tlie  flesh 
of  the  Si>n  of  Man,  and  di'ink  his  blood,  you  have  no 
life  in  vonf  but  again,  I  read  in  G:id  \erse:  "  It  is 
the  Spirit  that  quickeneth ;  the  flesh  proflteth  nothing: 
the  words  that  I  speak  unto  you  fhef/  are  s})irit  auvl 
ilfey  These,  with  the  light  shed  u])on  tliis  subject 
by  the  :]5th  vnrsi^:  '-And  .lesus  said  unto  lliem,  1 
ain  tlie  bread  of  life;  he  that  cometh  to  nie,  shall 
never  hungei',  and  he  that  believeth  o\\  me  shall 
never  thirst,"*  set  the  (piestion  for  e^■er  at  rest  in  my 
heart.  And  now  amid  all  the  contending  fears 
wdiich  pressed  like  an  incubus  upon  me,  my  soul 
laid  hold  of  the  piomis(\s,  and  my  experience  at 
this  tiuK^  is  bettpr  expressed  b}'  a  sacivd  poet  than 
I  can  describe  it: 

**  111  hope,  agaiust  all  human  hope, 

Self  (lespevate,  I  l-elieve, 
Thy  quickeniug  word  shall  raise  me  up, 

Thou  wilt  thy  spirit  give. 


54         MY  nOUf5E  BECOME?!-  A  TTOUSE  OE  PRAVEn. 

The  thing  surpasses  all  my  thoughts ; 

But  faithful  is  my  Lord, 
'J'lii'ougli  unbelief  1  stMggcr  not. 

For  r»o(l  liath  spoke  the  word. 

Faith,  mighty  Faith,  tlio  promise  >ecs, 

Ami  looks  to  that  alone: 
Laughs  at  impossibilities. 

And  cries  —  it  shall  be  done," 

Now  T  Logan  to  rralizo,  that  while  "with  open 
face  I  Lclh'kl  as  in  a  glas^i,  tlio  glory  of  God,  I  was 
changed  into  the  saint-  image,  Ly  the  Spirit  of  the 

Lord." 

This  wa;^  the  Llessed  result  of  heeding  the  counsel 
of  him  whom  God  had  e\idently  sent  to  turn  me 
awav  from  idols,  to  8er\e  the  living  God.  And  heie 
was' the  demonstration  of  the  truth  of  the  BiLle,  in 
the  realization  of  t  ^  fulfillment  of  that  first  sweet 
promise  I  read.  I  had  read  as  from  the  life  of  the 
Sa\iour:  "  Come  unto  nie  all  ye  that  labor  and  are 
lieavy  laden  and  I  will  giNe  you  rest."  My  coni]>an- 
ion,  Vho  cheeii'ullv  ioiiied  with  me  in  penitential 
jM'ayer,  soon  realized  the  peace  of  nund  and  an  e\  i- 
d*^nce  of  liei'  acceptance  with  God. 

From  this  time,  my  house  became  a  h(»use  of 
prayer,  and  often  was  found  to  Le  tlie  gate  of  heaven 
to  our  souls.  The  chang<'  of  oui'  <lomestic  customs, 
the  laving  aside  of  our  images,  heads  and  relics,  and 
our  liap])y  singing  and  extemporaneous  ])rayers,  had 
a  salutary  effect  upon  om*  children,  and  the  oldest,  my 
daughter  C^harlotte,  at  ten  years  of  age  Lecame  a 
happy  subject  of  God's  con\'eiting  grace. 

Tile  act  of  uniting  with  the  church  JK-ing  contt-m- 


plaled,  a 


ii«l  reviewing''  mv  introduction  to  the  Kumau 


Catholic  Church,  I  was  led  to  compare  their  mode 


MY  BAPTISM.  55 

of  Baptism  with  that  enjoined  in  the  Scriptures.  I  had 
thought  till  now  that  1  should  count  my  early  ba})- 
tism  vahd,  performed  as  it  was  l)y  the  sincere  wish  of 
mv  parents,  that  1  might  be  numbered  with  the 
children  of  God  in  covenant  and  hope;  but  the  Gos- 
pel required  ba])tism  with  water;  and  1  and  my 
children  had  been  baptised  with  oil,  cream,  and  salt, 
as  well  as  water,  applied  to  my  breast,  neck,  nose, 
mouth,  eyes  and  ears,  with  cotton  wool.  These 
superstitious  appendages  to  this  holy  sacrament, 
seemed  to  me  to  destroy  its  \  alidity,  and  desiring  to 
be  truly  apostolic  and  christian  in  my  proceedings, 
myself^  wife,  and  daughter  united  with  the  Second 
JVL  E.  Church,  and  were,  with  the  younger  children, 
baptized  with  pure  Avater,  in  the  name  of  the  Father, 
and  of  the  Son,  and  of  the  Holy  Ghost, 


\ 


CHAPTER  VII. 


My  renunciiitioii  of  Popery  brin-^.s  persecution— my  family"?  lone- 
liness—God ruisGL-i  friends  for  us:.  The  llomanists  report  that  I 
sold  my  religio  ,  for  monoy  —  an  AUosory— more  persecution 
defended  by  law— how  God  "answered  th<'  prayer  of  faith— the 
great  revival— more  of  the  Fr-nch  ]io"pio  ronvtTted—the  burning 
of  a  Bible — a  thrilling-  incident. 

The  event  of  my  |)iil)lie  ivnuueiatioii  of  iioniaii- 
isni  and  my  union  ^vitll  the  M.  E.  Church,  soon 
i-eached  the  ears  of  tlie  Bishop  and  ])riests,  and  we 
weJ'G  of  course  soon  turned  o^'er  to  vSatan,  and  the 
faitliful  of  the  church  A\ere  warned  to  a\oid  us,  a^ 
beiiifi;  most  (huio-erous  in  socici}'.  All  our  R<m'ian 
Cathohc  neighbors  turned  tlieir  backs  upon  us,  sonie 
of  them  e\en  refusino;  to  s|)eak  as  they  m-'t  us  in 
the  street,  and  others  at  seeino;  us,  passed  oyer  to 
the  otlier  side  to  avoid  meetino-  ns.  Tlie  i'elati\  es  of 
Mrs.  P.,  some  of  whom  livofb  in  \ho  o\\}\  airayed 
themselves  ao'ainst  us,  al'andoned  us  to  what  they 
called  our  heresy,  and  refused  to  exchange  the  custo- 
mary courtesies \vhicdi  luid  so  lono;  been  practised  by 
us.  '  This  wa- the  ^Minkindest  cuf'  of  all,  because 
if,  left  us  an  isolated  family,  witliout  a  siuQ^le  Fi'encli 
fimily  witli  wliom  we  conld  .--issociate;  and  as  we 
eould  then  speak  English  but  poorly,  ^we  ^ww  no 
socie 


mo; 


ty  foi    the'  American  [people.     But  by^the  ble 
oi  God,  we  soon  surmounted  this  difficulty,  for 


SPTTR  0¥  THTC  ROMANTSTS. 


57 


our  new  relation  to  the  church  brought  the  fiilfiU- 
ment  of  the  promise,  ''  He  that  forsaketli  friends  for 
my  sake,  shall  receive  in  this  life  an  hundred  fold, 
and  in  the  woi'ld  to  come  life  eNei-lasting,''  s<ion 
replenished  our  deserted  social  circle,  for  the  hearts 
of  God's  people  wei'e  e\'ery  where  open  to  encourage 
and  sustain  us.  Yet  while  God  blessed  us  on  one 
hand,  persecution  poured  in  like  a  flood  on  the  other, 
and  .soon  some  of  tlie  strano;est  i-eports  immao'inable 
were  cu'culated  concernino-  the  e^'ent«  which  led  to 
ray  renunciation  of  Romanism.  Since  I  had  lived 
after  the  strictest  manner  of  theii'  relio-ion,  an  upri<>lit 
Roman  Catholic,  there  was  no  change  of  wickedness 
they  could  pi'onounce  against  me :  and  because  the 
laws  of  the  United  States  are  so  struigent  upon  the 
subject  of  the  defamation  of  character,  it  is  but  little 
the  priest  ever  dar<^  to  say  before  the  public  by  way 
of  denunciation.  But  in  private,  and  in  the  confess- 
ional, they  can,  and  often  do  vent  their  spite  freely, 
by  which  as  by  a  ''  main  spring,"  tlif  depoit.ment  of 
multitii  le.^  are  ivgnlated  with  reterencr^  to  such 
thinov. 

* 

Amono-  other  I'eports  it  was  soon  very  p-oiierallv 
circulated  that  the  Protestants  had  given  mi>  six- 
hundred  dollai's  to  renounce  tho  Fioman  faith  and 
embi'ace  theirs;  but  evon  this  hatl  a  viuu't'  salutary 
eti«3ct  than  was  intended,  as  it  appeared  lik**  a  tacil. 
acknowledgment  that  Francois  F*epin  was,  after  all,  a 
man  of  som«^  importance,  tor  as  some  of  them  said 
afterwai'ds,  it  was  not  everv  Kt)manis(  that  could  pel 
SIX  hundred  dollars  for  his  religion.  \\\  relurn,  I 
a\ailed  mvself  of  the  benefit  of  the  !iccnsation  by 
proclaiming  that  the  report  was  an  allegory,  for  the 
difference  ni  the  value  of  the  Protestant  over  the 


Hi 


68  I  AM  ASSAILED  IN  THE  STREETS. 

Roman  religion,  wa.  moro  than  thai  amount,  in 
S  ".  me  I  more  precious  than  silver  ov  gold-Ure 
benefits  purcha.e.l  l.y   th.   i>reciou-,  hUA  'A  Jesu« 

^'f  ua   n.xt  a..ailed  while  pa,-,.ing  quiellv  along  the 

St,-  e^  l>N'n,cn>bers  of  the  French  Church   wagj^-.g 

I  eir  heads,  throNvino'  their  n.ouths  and   faces    nto 

aU  kin't  of'  hideous  forms  hy  contorUons.  nnd^ca  hug 

mehv   every   vile  epithet    nnagniable.      ilic  U'ai 

e,  -1   hus\-eceived  tVon,  persons  ^vho  called  them- 

V  .  ..     stiaas,  ^vas  such  that  if  recei^■ed  frcnn  any 

:  u  ce  V  In  1  ^  a  Romanist,  1  would  have  retalm  ed 
souiCe\wi-"  J  ,i,y    ^\^^; 

reyengetuUy,  I'Ut  t    uaa   now    i.u%      ,„..,,•  i,„„,,, 
yoke  of  Christ,  who  was  nuvk  and   h.x.l)  ot     ea.t 
,n,l  how  truly  in  hin>  1  fouu.l  rest   to  my  soul.     I 
wa    i    loed  s.;  o-racioush   sustained  n.  these  persecu- 
•;^tt^tti^tesIcouldnotbuthel.evethatGo 

had   nterposed  for  my  good  m  a  verv   special  man 

0       Oul   instanc  in  particular  will  onyutc.  the 

ad.ro    this  tact,  while  it  will  sIk.v  the  great  bene- 

tU     •  havina-  faith  iu  God.     An   nulixKlua ,  Mr.  B. 

llrme'fr.>n,  day  u.  -1-- ^-nt  five  to  «x  days  m 

l„ecossion,  follow  ing  n..  from  street  to  s  reel  a«  he  was 

.on  ,loy,..l   with  a  drav,  on  a  vanrty  ot  erra  ids,  <all- 

r'        heretic,  dog,^l..vil,  ..,.Kl    otl.r  t,a.^^^m^^^^^^^^^^ 

"    ,■ Ml  and  cui^iug  lu.'  most  prolanels  and  c   a! 

~,He   tofio-ht   iiim.      1  ivturued  hmi  eivilty 
„  ,  l„.^iii.uUs,  which  were  answered  with  more  bitte 
;i;;:ui^ar  iiiVective.  tmtil  it  became  niUW^^^ 
V,v  the  advice  of  friends.  I  ai^iilied   to  the  1  olici    to. 
otection.     As  soon   as  ibe  wan-ant  was  issu.d. 


per 


oeive*. 


\   thai   my   eiieuuos  am; 


•IV  ivadv    I*)  reioice 


that  the V  had  provoked  me  to 
lest  thai,  the  proceedings  m 


■esistance,  and  fearing 
the  prosecutioi 


m 


miglit 


I  APPEAL  TO  THE  POLICE  FOR  PROTECTION        59 


appear  revengeful,  I  prayed  iiiDtsl  earnestly  to  the 
Lord  that  lie  Avoiikl  interpi^^se,  take  cliarge  of  the 
affair,  and  save  his  cause  from  re})roach.  1  was  yet 
but  poorly  taught  in  the  niysiery  of  faith,  yet  1  had 
read  in  the  Bible,  ''  call  upon  me  in  the  day  of 
trouble  and  I  will  hear  thee  and  thou  shall  glorify 
me."  ''  Ask  what  ve  will  in  mv  name  and  it  shall 
be  given  you."  80  1  prayed  and  believed  and  sub- 
mitted my  cause  to  God,  and  God  did  indeed  anr>wer 
my  prayer. 

The  hour  of  court  ha\'ing  arrived,  in  company 
with  my  counsel  and  witnesses,  1  repaired  to  the 
office  of  justice,  where  we  met  Mr.  B.  the  defend- 
ant, who  as  soon  as  he  saw  me,  began  to  re})eat  his 
foul  epithets  and  abuses  until  arrested  by  the  Court, 
who  inquired,  "  if  he  knew  there  was  a  jail  in  town 
for  the  purpose  of  taking  care  of  such  men  as  he 
was?"  And  turning  to  me  h(?  said,  Mr.  Pe])in,  sve 
do  not  need  you,  nor  your  counsel,  nor  your  itness- 
es,  —  this  man  is  witness  enough  against  imnself; 
and  turning  to  liin^  he  said,  ''  now,  Mr.  B.  if  yoit 
can  gi\'e  the  necessary  bonds  to  keep  the  peace  with 
Mr.  P.  hereafter,  you  can  go  too;  but  if  not,  the 
Policemen  will  take  you  to  jail."  The  result  of  this 
])rosecution  had  more  than  one  advantage,  for  ^^'hile 
it  sa\'ed  the  cause  of  the  Protestant  from  reproach, 
it  did  also  for  a  time  sa> e  me  from  pul>lic  ])ersecution 

During  the  winter  of  1849-.50,  the  Second  M.  E. 
C.^hur(di  to  which  [  ha<l  attached  myself,  was  blessed 
with  a  season  of  great  refreshing  from  the  presence 
of  the  Lord,  which  I'esulted  in  the  conversion  of 
more  than  one  hundred  and  twenty-five  persons. 
Being  full  of  the  love  of  God  and  zeal  for  my  breth- 
ren, 1  immediately  commenced  among  my  French 


60 


THE  GREAT  REVIVAL. 


neighbors,  inviting    them   to   meeting,  and    making 
theni    the   subjecls   of  iho   special    prayers   ot    the 
chuivh.     Tl  ^vas  a  mcetino-  attended  with  the  pres- 
ence and  v>0Nver  of  God  to  an   extraordinary   degree, 
so  that  scarceh-  an   individnal  Avas  known  to   enter 
the  chnivh  <lnriiio-  service,  but  Ml   the.   awakening 
si>irit  of  o:race.     During   the   progress  ot  the  meet- 
in<v  some  twentv-tive   French   people  placed   them- 
sehe-  nn<hn-  the  pravers  of  the  chnrch  an<l  the  c^un- 
<els  o(  the  pa<or,  aiid  pubhcly  renonncerl  their  taith 
in  Romanism.     The  whole  of  this  number  were  not 
converted    however,    tor    from     mistaken    views    ot 
relio-ion,   some  of  them  sup] >osed  that  a  mei^  decla- 
ration   oi-   protession   of    the  taith  of    the    Protest- 
•iiitswas  all    that   was  necessary,  and  consequent!), 
thono'h   the^-   weiT^  nominal   Protestants,  they  were 
not  cliristians.     But  some  of  them  were  truly  con- 
N-erted,  aud  we  be-an  to  believe,  what  the  pastor  had 
ahva.lv   ]>ubliclv   declared,  -  that  God  wa^  about  to 
raise  up  a  people  tbr  himself  among  the  trendi,  and 
that  in  a  slioA  tim.   a    French   Protestant.   Church 
would  be  l)uilt,  and  tlu'  ],eoi»le  would  hear  the  gospel 
nreached  in  theii-  own  tongiu'." 
'    lunw  heo-an  loteel  that   God    had    called    me  to 
ihe  ^reat  work,  and  b^■  Nisiting  trom  house  to  house 
and^bv  assisting  the    pastor  in  private    meetings  ap- 
nointJdtbr  our  p(«<.ple,  which  were  conducted  m  the 
French    lan^ruage  prh.<Ml>ally,  (rod  oft.n    hlessed  me 
an<l  ma(l(«  m*-  a  hle>^iug  t<.  olher-^. 

Tl,.  nieeiiii-sspok.'U  of  were  fmiitul  <.t  denion- 
stration  thai  1  wa-  iioi  alone  iii  being  pi'rsecuted  tor 
reading  the  Bible  an<l  s<?eking  to  be  godlv  ;  one  m- 


terestinii"  in 


'tance  1  will  here  relate 


Duriii--  the  revi\  al  meetings  a  Mrs.  D.  from  Grosse 


THE  Bf  ENii^O  OF  A  BIBLE. 


61 


Isle,  some  fifteen  miles  below  the  city  of  Detroit, 
came  into  town  and  called  at  mv  house  lo  relate  a 
tale  of  sad  distress  to  Mrs.  P.  to  whom  she  had  of- 
ten applied  for  counsel  and  sympathy.  She  had 
lieard  nothino-  of  our  i-eformation  and  rcinniciation 
of  Romanism,  or  it  is  douotful  if  she  hnd  called, 
which  rendei'ed  the  circumstance  a  more  remarkable 
providence.  From  her  account,  Mr.  Mary,  the  col- 
porteur horn  whom  I  obtained  my  Bible,  had  gi^en 
her  one,  which  she  Jvad  attenti\ely  for  se\en  months, 
and  it  happened  <jnce  \\hile  at  confession,  <liscovering 
a  misstatement  in  the  professed  scri]>ture  instructions 
of  the  ])riest,  she  Ncntured  to  correct  him.  Incensed 
at  her  impudence,  he  innnediately  inquired  how  she 
knew  what  the  Bible  t audit ;  and  learniua'  she  had 
one  in  her  possession  refused  to  ]»ard')n  her  till  she 
should  return  home  and  desti'oy  it  in  the  tire.  She 
went  home,  and  weei)ing  at  the  tlKjught  of  the  loss 
of  the  precious  ti-easure,  yet  trend  Jino- in  fear  of  the 
u.n|>ardonable  sin  of  disobedience,  she  connnitted  it 
to  the  flan)es,  and  roturnint»-  to  tho  j>riest,  informed 
liim  she  had  destroyed  it,  and  he  in  I't^urn  ga\e  her 
absolution.  Slic  informed  us  iu  ])ublic  meetino;  while 
sobbing  aloud,  >}ie  made  ap]»lication  tbr  another 
Bible;  that  she  had  searceh-  passed  a  iiio'ht  since  the 
destruction  of  her  bouk,  Init  she  had  (h'oamed  of  its 
sacred  contents. 

But  the-  ol)ject  of  her  \  isit.  a>  related  to  mx  truui- 
ly,  had  another   development.      At  the  tiiii<'  of  the 

Inu'uing  of  the   Bible   sh<'   li\"'l   in ,   Imt  now 

fiaving  remo\<'(1  lo  riro:;;"  l-b-,  ,,]|.>  eallcl  nii  a  ])iiesi 
at,  Andieistlturg,  C.  W..  to  seek  th*'  eoiisoli'tion^  of 
pardon  by  humbl"  confession  of  •>iu.  But  now  her 
burdened   heart  wa^^  })ressed  down    under  a  double 


62 


A  THHILLIxVG  INCIDENT. 


weiglit   of  grief,  for  i\\o  pri.>i    ret\is(Ml  her  tlu^  Mesfs- 
inoMinless  yho  .slioiiM  p;!}  hiiu  on^  dollar  in  a<haiice. 
The  poor  woman  Kiiru;  \Mth«Mi(  nioiu^v,  and  lahoring 
imder  a  peeuhar  siat"   «'f  in--nta!    distn'ss,  resulthig 
more   from   the   lo--^   <-C  ih"    IlihK'  than   any    tiling 
eke,  turned  a\vay  fn»n)  ilie  eonfessumal  with  a  heavy 
heart;  but  finding   no   rest,   slie   pa^-ed  her  way  on 
foot,  eighteen  miles  (o  Detroit,  hoping  U)  lind  a  more 
mereiful  confessor.     But  this  was  only  tv)  dotihle  l)oth 
her  dipaj>pointment  and    distress,     for    the   sapient 
Father,  to  wliom  slu^  applied,  kn^'W  how  to  demand 
liis  thiie-lionored  riuhi,  :\\u\  \w  refused  iier  the  bless- 
ing for  less  than  lw<>  d.>!iars.      Vhu^  with  a  burdened 
and  breaking  heart,  she  wa>  turned  emi>t.y  a.A\ay  from 
the  tlu-one  of  graec  and  ealling  upon  us  to  relate  her 
tale  of  distress,  we  a\ailed  ourselves  of  the  opportu- 
nitv  of  directing  her  to  Him  who  says,   ''  Come  buv 
Avine  and  milk,  with' >ui  ni^^uey   and   without  price." 
She  was  at  first   a^^tonished  :«t   the   change  which 
had  come   over  us,  but   was  onuforted  by  ounsels, 
attended  the  cluuvh  ser\  ic«-  witli  us,  and  related  her 
troubles,  was  supplied    with    another  Bible,  which 
neither  Priest  nor  Po]>e   will   ever  dei>rive   her  ol 
again.     Mrs.   D.,  her  husband,  and   live   daughters, 
have  become  constant  readers  of  the  Bible,  and  are 
striving  by  its  counsel--,  to  love  and  serve  the  Lord; 
and   tlieir' son  having  entered  into  marriage  with  a 
Protestant  ladv,  has 'turned  awa}-  from  Priests,  Beads, 
and  Penances,  to  be  guided   by    the  word  of  God 
alone. 


CHAPTEK  YIII. 


Organization  of  the  fn";!t  French  ('hiss.  My  call  to  Uibor  for  ray 
cuuntryuien  My  ttlort  in  Detroit.  A  nii--:iouary  ijrocuroil.  My 
tanphiyment  a."?  a  Bil»U'  coliiorturcr  I'or^'.ccutioii-i  icnowcd.  My 
hist  etfort  to  induce  Bishop  L.  to  lead  nic  back  if  i  had  erred  fiU)ni 
the  right  way.     (.^viotatiou   from  the  Canada,  (!hri,-tiaii  (Juardiaii. 


licr 


r>UV 

71 


The  I'eader  will  recolk^-l  thai  hi  a  former  eliapter 
I  alhided  t(>  the  fact  tliat  the  idea  of  oroaniziiii)-  a 
Frencli  Pi'otestaiit  Chiircli  and  of  hiiildiugaii  edifice 
foi'  their  worship  where,  in  our  own  tongue,  our  peo- 
ple iviiglit  hear  the  pure  gospel  preaehe<l  as  it  is  in 
Jesus  Cdu'ist,  had  already  heen  advertised  hv  the 
pastor.  So,  as  the  work  of  grace  moved  on,  the 
demand  for  the  enterprise  seeme<l  to  be  a  direct  call 
of  Providence.  A  correspondence  was  commenced 
with  the  Board  of  Missions  in  1850,  h\  Mr.  Taylor, 
in  which  the  presiding  Elder,  Kew  James  Shaw,  an<l 
tlie  Pastor  of  the  Fiist  Methodist  Ei)iscoi>al  Church, 
Ke^^  E.  H.  Pilcher  and  others  1  have  heard,  partici- 
pated; but  for  lack  of  a  suitabL^  person  to  take  charge 
<.)f  such  a  mission,  the  project  lingered  till  the  sum- 
mer of  1851.  But  the  work  of  God  among  the 
French  continued  to  ])rogress,  and  as  tlie  numl)er  of 
those  who  pi-eferred  to  perform  their  devotions  m 
their  own  language  increased,  in  the  spring  of  1851, 
the  pastor  organized  the  first  Methodist  Class  of 
Frencli  Protestant  Christians  which  ever  met  in  De- 


64  ORGANIZATION  OF  A  FRENCH  CLASS. 

troit  in  that,  capacity,  to  worship  God      At  tj,i.  con- 
tPiiiplalod  conuneuccn.eut  ot  our   nitaut   chinch,  1 

'  '"1"      .    ,    ,    t„  „,,,  v,.wtor  mv   own   peoiihar  foel- 
.■omiimnioflted   to  my  pastoi,  m}    o»n    i 

iug«  ana  impressions  with  reference  to  my  K^,  o 
aive  nn-s.4t  to  the  work  ot  laboring  to  sa^e  m) 
eolmt Ttten  bv  spreading  the  Bible  and  preachmg 
S!  Gospel  to  'thim.  This  commt.n.eation,  though 
o'lven  with  much  delicacy  and  reluctance,  wa.  tavor- 
ably   received,  by  my  pastor. 

The    oroanizatiori     of    the    Vrench     Clas.«    «a3 
,,i   the   dme  for    n>y .  fet .  public  ^,^^ 
waB  brought  about  by  notice  bemg  "^^^^^^^J^S 
tliecitv  uud   the  country  aw""^   where  the  French 
e^ded,  that  Franeok  Pepin  would  publ.clv  relate  1   , 
cxperieree   and  the  circumstance,  which  led  to  ln= 
c,\    rsion   from   Romani.m   to  be  a  Methodist      A 
lav...e  number  of  French   people   v.ere  p  esen*   and 
God  wa.  evideutlv  with  us,  mid  at  the  clo.e  ot  the 
.;°vice  the  cla.  was  f.rme,!  and   some   more  than 
uventv  -vaA,'  inf.  ^v  name,  as  uiemberB  on  probation 

•  Our  .listUHl  [■ .  ..-h  nieelings  were  regularl>-  kept 
,,  r,mi  il.is  luoe  lill  the  month  01  May  wluM  , 
mrder  direclion  of  the  Missionary  Society  ot  the  M. 
F  Chureli,  Rev.  Thomas  Carter,  from  Jsew\orl., 
arrive  1  and  took  charge  of  tl.' Bocieiy  as  a  trench 
Mission,  and  which  has  e-.ntinued  uud.-r  his  care  until 

As  soon  as  Mr.  C".   (.nler..d   upon  the  work  of    n,^ 

,nission;  an,1  the   snbjc.H  of  building  us  ^;^^<^l^T. 
inib.iv^iM         ,     ,        :',...  I .,..,..,.  <.w.-,.ne\v  then' attacks 

atti  ibute  all  the 
as  the  result 


cam*-'  a<i 


nii 


upon 


tritatea,  the  priests  began  U)  n 
tbi-  nut*.)  Hie  they   «eein  to 


e\ 


il  wliich  had  and  waG  like  to  transpne 


of  this  gracious  wor 


k  of  God.     The  Agent  of  the 


CATHOLIC  PERSECUTION  RENEWED. 


C5 


liept 
when, 
be  M. 
York, 
'lencli 
l'  lUitil 

of  \m^ 
cli  be- 
^iltacks 
all  the 
;  result 


'  ^ 


la 


American  Bi1,l(,  Society,  R(»v.  J.  A.  B.anjTliman,  Lad 
about  this  tune  eno-aovd  my  servicers  as  a  colportuer, 
and  as  I  was  enm;air(Ml  in  ])er8uadino-  the  French  peo^ 
pie  to  read  the  \\'(,rd  of  God,  the  iiKh'onation  of  the 
priests  o-rew  hotter  and   liotter,  until  thev  publicly 
denounced  me,  and  warned  the  p(H>ple  in  lui\e  noth- 
nig  to  do  with  m(\     As  a  natural   cons(Mpience,  the 
more  bio'oted  of  them   renewed   their  attacks  upon 
me  in  the  streets,  and  clian^'ing  me  with  selling  my 
religion  for  money,  and  tlie'jjke.     At  every  opportu- 
nity afforded  to  converse  ^vith  the  more  intelligent  of 
them,  I  would  remind  tJiem  of  the  ditlerence'ln  the 
deportment  of  the  priests  and   th(^  Good  Hhepherd, 
who,   having   lost   one   sheep,   "  left  the  ninety  and 
nine  in  the  wilderness  and  searche.l  after  it  until  lie 
found  it."     1  would   in.pn're,   if  the   Bishop  knows 
that  I  have  strayed  from  th(*  right  way,  why  does  he 
not  come  after  me,  oi*  send  ibr  me,  and  seek  to  lead 
me  back  again  ?     But  lliough,  (knowing  their  hab- 
its,)   I   had   reason  to   belitne  that  the  p.riests  were 
informed  of  my  wish,  they   never  once   gave  me  a 
hearing,  or  by  kind  christian  counsel,  sougiit  to  recov- 
er me;  but  e\er  and  anon  new  reports  C(jncerninr»*  mo 
floated  among  the   Romanists   ranks,  which  I'^had 
rea^son  to  believe,  originat^^l  with  the  priests.    Again 
and  again  I  heard  of  their  warning    the    people  to 
have  no  intercourse  with  me,  but  to  avoid  me  as  an 
evil  man.     'Jliese   things  were  grie\'oiis  to  me,  and 
although  1  had  neither  doubts  or  fears  concerning  my 
present  religious  experience,  or  the  church  to  which 
I  belonged,   still  I  thought  it  a  duty  to  place  myself 
within  the  intiuence  of  their  instruV-tions,  and  ftivor 
them  with  an  opportunity  to  convince  me  of  what 
they  call  my  error  and  sin. 


CG 


CHALLENGE  TO  THE  BISHOP. 


yi ' 


I  thereforo  addressed  a  l(3tter  to  tlio  Bishop  pro- 
posing to  hear  hiin  if  he  would  give  me  an  opportu- 
nity to  reply,  which  he  did  nr.t  accept;  but  a  gentle- 
man from  Toronto,  C.  W.,  answered  nie,  ])roposing  a 
controversy  l>y  private  letter,  or  through  the  pages  of 
the  Canada  Evangelist.  But  as  I  sought  not  con- 
troversy with  strangers,  and  confessing  myself  inca- 
pable of  doing  so  through  the  press  in  the  English 
language,  I  of  coui-se  declined,  for  my  only  object 
was  to  remove  the  last  hinderance  out  of  the  way  of 
my  old  religious  teacher,  that  if  he  could,  he  might 
bring  me  back  to  the  faith.  As  a  variety  of  reports 
have"  been  circulated  with  reference  to  my  insolence 
in  addressing  the  Bishop  as  I  did,  T  beg  leave  to  in- 
troduce it  to  the  reader  just  as  it  wns  published  in 
the  above  named  paper,  and  with  the  remarks  with 
which  the  Editor  saw  fit  to  accompany  it. 


61* 


CHALLENGE  TO  THE  ROMAN  CATHOLIC 
BISHOP  OF  DETROIT. 


By  a  recent  convert  from  Popery, 


We  have  the  satisfaction  of  laying  before  our  read- 
ers the  following  letter  written  by  a  French  Canadian 
who  is  pretty  w^ell  known  in  this  neighborhood,  hav- 
ing resided  for  a  considerable  time  in  this  township 
some  years  ago.  Having  been  converted  from  the 
erroi's  of  Popery  to  the  "  truth  as  it  is  in  Jesus,"  he 
is  now  engaged  by  a  Missionary  Society  as  a  Bible 
Colporteur  in  Detroit  and  vicinity,  and  occasionally 
extends  his  tours  for  spreading  the  scriptures  to  this 
side  of  the  river,   visiting  Windsor,  Sandwich,  and 


^^B 


CHALLENGE  TO  THE  BISHOP. 


67 


hop  pro- 
opportu- 
a  gentle- 
)posing  a 

pages  of 
not  con- 
self  inca- 

Englinh 
ly  object 
e  way  of 
10  might 
f  reports 
insolence 
ve  to  in- 
lished  in 
irks  with 


this  and  adjoining  townships.  He  is  very  zealous  in 
the  Bible  cause  and  lias  been  a  successful  instrument 
in  doing  much  g(^od  in  this  department  of  Chrietian 
effort.  The  priests  in  Detroit  and  also  in  this  \icini- 
ty,  have  used  the  greatest  influence  against  him,  but 
notwithstanding  all,  Jiis  labors  have  been  blessed,  ar/^ 
our  prayer  is  tliat  they  may  be  more  and  more  maao 
a  blessing.  We  are  pleased  to  learn  that  a  F^^nch 
Protestant  Church  is  about  to  be  built  in  the  city  of 
Detroit. 

We  may  state  tliat  the  proposal  contained  in  the 
letter  was  not  accepted  by  the  Bishop. 


:holic 


TO  BTSIIOP  LEFEYER,  BISHOP  OF  THE 
ROMAN  CATHOLIC  CHURCH  OF  THE 
DIOCESE  OF  DETROIT. 


Right  Reverend    Sir: — 


our  read- 
Canadian 
ood,  hav- 
township 
from  the 
Fesus,"  he 
IS  a  Bible 
casionally 
'es  to  this 
sach,  and 


Having  been  educated  in  the  Church  in  which 
you  minister,  and  for  a  long  time  laboured  under  its 
influence,  I  feel  constrained  to  write  this  letter  to 
you, — seeking  light — if  I  am  in  darkness, — and 
desiring  to  know  the  truth  if  I  am  in  error. 

You  know  me.  I  have  conversed  with  you  on 
religion  and  about  the  Bible.  Not  beino*  satisfied  I 
with  my  family,  left  your  church,  and  have  since 
been  greatly  blessed  in  Christian  fellowship,  with  an- 
other portion  of  God's  people. 


68 


CHALLENGE  TO  THE  BISHOP. 


I  learn,  that  one  of  your  priests,  lias  piiWiely  fore- 
warned Ills  hearers  to  have  nothino*  to  do  with  me, 
and  to  hold  no  conversation  witli  me.  Many  of  my 
countrymen,  "vvlio  speak  my  nati\'e  languao-o,  and  who 
were  once  friendly,  now  avoid  me, — as  if  I  was  a 
pestilence. 

This,  it  seems  to  me,  is  not  Christian,  and  not  in 
accordance  with  God's  law  of  love. 

Now,  I  have  this  to  pri^pose.  I  will  attend  at 
what  church  you  mav  direct,  and  ho;)r  what  you  have 
to  say,  wherein  I  am  Avrono-;  and  all  I  want,  is  the 
privilege  of  replyiii,:^; — if  I  think  ]>ro]xT — and  shew- 
hig  the  "  reasons  of  the  taith  that  is  in  me." 

If  I  am  right,  you  are  wrong.  If  you  are  right, 
I  am  wrong,  and  I  want  to  know  it  before  it  he  too 
late.  The  Great  Sliepherd  left  the  ninety-nine  sheep 
that  lie  considered  safe,  in  order  to  i'(>cover  the  one 
that  was  lost.  Will  not  you,  an  under  Sheplierd, 
imitate  his  exam])le,  and  try  and  i*eco\er  me.  I  am 
open  to  conviction.  All  I  want  is  a  fair  hearing  and 
the  freedom  of  stating  publicly,  my  objections  to  the 
Roman  Church,  for  you  to  remove  if  you  can. 

I  r*m  an  unlearned  man,  but,  I  love  God  and  the 
truth. 

Respectfully  your  Brother  in  CTirist  .Tesus, 

FRANCOIS  PEPIN. 


MR.   PEPIN'S  CHALLENGE. 


In  our  last  numlier  we  ])ublished  a  challenge  to 
the  Roman  Catholic  Bishop  of  Detroit,  to  a  public 
discussion,  by  F.  Pepin,  a  convert  from  Popery,  and 


mi 


m 


EXTRACT  FROM  THE  CANAD 4  Pr .  v.. 

v^J^iiDA  E\  ANGELI8T.   (JO 

from  a  gentleman  in  ToroS  f^'  ■"'"''''^  ^  ^^tter 
the  challenive,  and  desirW  t^ ^'T'-"^  ^  ^««Pt  of 
sy  with  Mi-rPepin,  S  e,K  '    f  !"**'  "  ^"''Over- 
the  pages  of  Ihi    ^^4^^"  t'' \f «' T  *^<'"g'» 
witer  requests  that  tll^  i';,,  J"  .f  ^*  ^^'ter  tie 
all  pereonalitr,  and  vet  hi  !  f ^       ^'''^  avoidance  of 
i?Binnation  tlllt  .  ii,?  p 1 1'  ''f  "''''  ^^^  ""^air 
t'-ve  situation  of  Bible  Cdl'f^  ™'  ^'^  *^«  ^''^ra- 

pem^rsion  makes  the  ex2w/?  T"  ^*«^  ^^ 
the  trudi  suspicious."  ^^  °*  ^"^  ''<^^'"'e  to  know 

motiverS'ctal,?ourT'''''^\^^  "^«««n«ry 
greatly  mistaken.  Mr  Pe2  r?""'^^"'  *^'''''  ^^  '« 
Porteur  much  less  than  h!'^".- 1*"*",'™'  now  as  Col- 
former  occ„],atio„  ^'  '^'^'  ^^^«"  P»''auing  his 

0.-  through  the     ais  TZ'T^  '™'*"-«  ^^  W 

following? considiS^wiJfi.u^'^r^^^''  "'«  '^o 
it  could  "not  be  com   "Lll  o  ''"•'^'.°  '°  ^^'^that 
1st.  Mr.  PeJr^.p'\""  ^l"-'' footing. 

'^■h.oh  he  speali  in  a  bXn  manu"?  O  ^""^'""^' 
pondent  on  the  other  hanrl  ;,  ™  ""''^  Our  corres- 
is  the  English  ton-^ue  '  "'^^^'^  ^'^^^ular 

Bfclwp  was  to  a  Zbli '  di.,    •'  "'''"'"««  ^o  the 
episto  ary  corrosnon    „      discussion,   au<l  not  to  an 

-nan  may  be  pretty  ^.^iJt•'^.,'J'''''"^,^^^  a 

J  _,-_a  lu  .,  ^"'=^Li?,oion  or  ally,  but 


c  2 


II 


70       EXTRACT  FROM  THE  CANADA  EVANaELIST. 


who  would  not  be  able  to  sit  down  and  compose  an 
article  for  the  press. 

It  is  easy  to  see  therefore,  that  the  controvei-sy 
solicited  by  the  writer  in  question,  could  not  be  con- 
ducted with  any  fairness,  owing  to  these  important 
differences  between  them.  If  however  our  correspond- 
ent should  come  to  Detroit,  or  agree  to  meet  at  some 
more  central  place  for  a  discussion,  so  that  it  could 
be  conducted  in  French,  we  ha^^e  no  doubt  but  Mr. 
Pepin  would  be  ready  to  come  forward  in  defence  of 
that  truth  which  has  made  him  free. 

We  had  an  opportunity  a  few  days  ago  of  reading 
to  Mr.  P.  the  letter  of  our  correspondent.  Zeal  for 
the  truth  fired  his  eye  and  gave  a  glow  of  animation 
to  his  countenance.  He  could  not  however  from  his 
imperfect  knowledge  of  Enghsh,  engage  in  an  epis- 
tolary controversy.  He  stated  however,  that  he 
would  still  adhere  to  his  fonner  challenge.  On  en- 
quiring in  what  way  he  intended  to  conduct  the  dis- 
cussion, he  immediately  took  out  of  his  pocket  a 
little  piece  of  cloth  with  a  string  to  it.  "  This  said 
he  is  the  scapular  which  I  got  from  the  Bishop  of 
Detroit.  I  went  down  on  my  knees  and  kissed  the 
Bishop's  ring  and  paid  him  a  quarter  of  a  dollar,  and 
he  put  this  piece  of  rag  over  my  nock,  professing  to 
tell  me  that  it  was  sent  from  heaven  by  the  Virgin 
Mary,  and  that  whoever  wore  such  scapulars  would 
be  protected  from  all  evil,  and  could  never  go  to  hell. 
Now  says  he,  I  was  going  to  ask  the  Bishop  in  the  fii-st 
l^lace,  to  prove  from  the  Bible  that  this  piece  of  rag 
given  me  by  him  could  be  the  means  of  saving  my 
soul  or  protecting  from  danger."  Well,  thought  we, 
that  will  be  rather  a  knotty  point  for  the  Bishop. 


EXTRACT  FROM  THE  CANADA  EVANGELIST.        7 1 

mit  tiio  Bible  and  common  sense  are  like  David's 
air      "'  '«'""'  ''***'^  g'""*  strength  i 

a  til  m  Cxod,  a.s  Protestant  Christians  receive  it  I 
<»e  endeavored  dihsently  to  labor  to  obtain  sahVti^n 
(I'voMgh  Jesus  Christ  our  Redeemer 


CONCLUSION. 

Dvnr  reader,  I  have  tliu.s  conducted  you  tIirou<di 
my  oai'] y  lite  and  education ;  liaNc  presented  to  a'ou 
in  niA-  limiible  luanne'r,  an  account  of  many  circum- 
stances   exliihiting  erro)-s,  delusions  an<l  evils  ^vliicli 
1  once  cliei'islied  as  sacred  and  of  divine  orii>-in.     Of 
some  of  tliese  tliino-s  you  Ivdve  heard  before,  and 
some  are  entnvly  ne^v,  and  you  liave  no  autliority  but 
my  Jnnnble  declaration  as  a  proof  of  their  existence  • 
but    you  may  depend  tliat  1  haxo  said  but  little,  but 
what  many  othc^rs  have  seen  tlie  like,  althouo-h  they 
have  not  yet  declared  it.     But  let  the  reader  remem- 
bei-,  whether  he  be  a  Roman    Catholic  or  a  Protest- 
ant   that  I    speak  with    a    clear  conscience,   that 
trod  will  judo-e  me  concernino-  this  narrative;  and  if 
IhaN-e  wickedly  spoken  falsehoods,  1  havQ  no  hope 
of  pardon  from  an}'  j^riest  or  earthly  confcvssor.     The 
Methodists  do  not  belieNo  that  any  but  God  can  i)ar- 
don  the  sinner,  and  that  dying  without  his  pardon, 
as  the  Bible  teaches,  none  can  see  the  Kinmlom  of 

(jrod.  ^ 

Then  believe  mo  when  I  say  I  have  spoken  for  no 
other  ^  object,  but  to  ghr'ity  God  for  the  li(vht  of  his 
salvation,  which  I  have  found  by  readino-lhe  Bible- 


MV  UliASONS  FOR  PUDLI.SmXO. 


T3 


and  if  It  may  ,,l,.„o  God,  I  m\^]d  be  an  instmniont 
11  lus  haiids,  of  Lading  my  count.ynion,  wlio  are 
blinded,  deceived  and  abused,  to  follow  the  priests  no 
longer;  to  read  the  Bible  for  themseh-es,  and  pray  to 
God  alone,  that  iii  the  end,  tliey  may  come  to  ever- 
lasting Lfe. 

I  have  bronglit  out  this  book  because  it  has  Ioik, 
been  nnpressed  upon  my  heart  as  a  dutv  wliieh  I  ovJl- 
to  you  and  t(.  the  «-orld,  to  proclaim  the  wonders  of 
redeeming  grac<:.  an,l  the  loxe  of  God  ^vUch  I  feel  in 
my  soul. 

Oh  tliat  God  would  arise  for  the  deliverance  of 
my  countrymen  from  tlio  oppressions  of  ]^».erv,  and 
bring  them  into  the  light  and  libertv  of  his  dear 
children,  "les,  I  do  indeed,  sometiine's  feel  to  say 
witii  bt.  1  ar,!,  I  could  wish  mvself  afflicted  bv  the 
permis,sion  of  God,  even  to  be '  accounte,!  accursed 
tor  my  bretheren,  ra,y  kinsmen,  according  to  the 
flesh"  Perha,,s  I  shall  yet  die  in  this 'cause  a 
martyr  for  the  truth.  My  enemies  who  say  I  have 
oi'saken  the  true  church,  have  more  than  once  souglit 
o  do  me  bodily  injury,  and   threatened    to  kill  me: 

"Itl       !•"''•     '",'''•'"  P™3"™S^vith   mv  Saviour, 
tather  torgno   them,   they  know  not  "what  thev 

(10.  •• 

Dear  reader,  suffer  a  word  of  exliortation.  Cast 
a«ay  your  Beads,  cast  away  your  Sc.-,pular;  bow 
d'Wii  no  more  to  images,  but  go  into  vour  chamber, 
and  pray  to  your  Father  who  seethin  secret,  and 
ne  wiJl  iiear  you  pray,  and  reward  vou  openlv."  Oh 
bear  with  me  while  I  inquire,  what  would  /ou  say 

should  \Ai 


Pep 


ice  jou  at  tlie  left  hand,  and 


of  God,  if  the  Judge 


jealous  God,"  and  will 


.sa\ 


am  a 


not  give  my  hono/ to  another 


74 


': 


w- 


APPEAL  TO  Mr  FORMER  TEACHERS. 


this  rayorfwU ■";  o  o^S  lit  ^'"'^  ^"-'f 
a-.d  beg-in  .vithout  d  lay.  1!.'  tt  hv  -T"'"  '""  '' 
God  and  to  God  alone.  °  •'   "  ^'^y  *" 

-fre  you   a  Roman  Catliolic  Pr\o^t>     le 
«"eh  you  ,vill  hate  me,  and  tb    b-xk    t,      C'  ^ 
fnend,  pause  I  beseeoli   vr,„    „    i        ,  ■^'"'  '">' 

couch  sion      I  do  w  1  \    '      "-^  '"•■''^^  »"'  a  '-asli 

notlove  TOursvstemo^  V:°"'"''=  akhouirh  I  do 
your  soul      S"f''f""-\t«'>^''i„.,  I  do  love 

tian,  I  must  love  vou  •  Z^T'r'''""^  "'  "  C^"''^' 

-s  and  pt«i  Se.';:^  he,  r  iri  s  ™r^'- 

of  God's  Row  \V.  ]     '  "^'^•^'•'■''"g  t"  tlio  teachings 

you  die      Whe.?  o  '  o'"^"''  '°  ^"  ^-^  H<.aven  wlJn 

you  be  numWd  iiT^'''\'"  -? '     ^'''  ^^"^'W 

the  Kingdom  oTh  a  -0       f ,"'  '■"';'  *'"  ''""'>•  '" 
your  idoh  o-lvn  ■^"''"    *""i  '"''•■■'V  from 

pe5fif":/aP^^^^^^^^^  ^1-eiVe  the 

nofa;£;::£';-St/fe£r 

pneste,  no  „or  the  Pope  himse  f  ^v' th  a  iZ.        ''" 


Who  sh.!nV  any  thing  to  the  ch::^: 


TO  THE  CHRISTIAN  READER. 


75 


of  God's  elect?     Tt   ;«   rui  ^i   ^  • 

ho  that  co,Kf.:,.neU;    itt  ISr^tf'l  ^^^  '^ 

band  of  God,  m- ho  also  „,aketh  interccsiou  for  T<. " 

2:at.t?,^,l^;:™g;^^^7ie.iu:^he 

.'elf,  reallv  <hcHyed>     nf^  '  ,  ?      '''  ,•'"""'  3'0"''- 

tnuh  an.]  sah"!,.!;;^"-'''  ^  '°'''''"''^^'  '"*'' ^'"■'  "g!''  ^^ 
Ciiiistian  rea^li-r,  you  ha^•e  now  seon  ..omo  of  tl„ 
l,-„,oi        '     /^--'''iniiwn;  bo    thankfu    that    "  thp 
hnes  haNo  fal  on  to  yon  in  j.loasant  plaeos  a„d  that 

of  m-  f-  n  I.    f  ,.        'lone  tor  ,ny  soni,  for  the  souls 
01  m)  tan  il_\,  tor  many  of  tlie  Fronch  iu  DotmJt 

m  me.cy  and  ,n  power,  and  delher  this  peopk? 
Will  you  not  p,ty  the  Romanist  wherever  vo^L 
one,  praj.ng-  that  their  "  idols  may  soo  boC^ 
the  mole.s  and  to  the  bats,"  and  tl  at  al  th  ^oZ 
of  the  earth  njay  soon  know  but  the  one  toocl  Td 

S;  S:  "''  *'"' "'"  *'-  P-r'«  "-y  love  3 

witf"^'',  "'*"  ■''''''''"■  '''•'"'•'  commend  to  you  the 
words  and  sontunent  of  the  followin<r  stanza.'  as  « 
prevailing  prayer  of  his  heart :         =  '      '*''* 


im 


pi 


76 


STANZAS. 

x\rm  of  the  Lord,  awake,  awake ! 
Put  on  thy  stren,2;th — the  nations  shake ! 
And  let  the  world,  adoring  see. 
Triumphs  of  ^iiercy  wrought  by  Thee. 

Say  to  the  heathen,  from  Thy  throne, 
I  am  Jehovah— God  alone  ; 
Thy  voice  their  idols  shall  confound, 
And  cast  their  altars  to  the  ground. 


r  ; 


i^o  more  let  creature  blood  be  .spilt, 
Vain  sacrifice  for  human  guilt ! 
But  to  each  conscience  be  applied, 
The  blood  that  flowed  from  Jesus'  side. 

Almighty  God,  thy  grace  proclaim, 
In  every  land,  of  every  name ; 
Let  adverse  powers  before  Tliee  f;tl1, 
And  crown  the  Saviour  Lord  of  all. 


I 


i 


I 


I  sliake ! 
'hee. 

one, 

nd, 
ad. 

lit, 

I, 
'  side. 


all. 


